Bryan Wilkes is a Florida Native, born in Bradenton Florida. He is currently the athletic director at Palmetto High School where he has been since 2005. Bryan started wrestling at Southeast High School in 1976 and was a two-time district champion and two-time state qualifier. After graduation, he wrestled at Carson-Newman College before entering the United States Marine Corps where he trained to be an aviation crew chief on helicopters. Bryan tried out for the All-Marine wrestling team in January of 1983, and was part of the team until 1985. Those teams were US Armed Forces champions in 1983 and 1984, as well as national champions in 1984 at the USA National Championships held at the University of Michigan.

After serving his country, Coach Wilkes began his coaching career starting at Crystal River High School in Citrus County, where he was able to coach his brother Dana in 1986. Bryan then moved to Lecanto High School, another Citrus school, in 1989, where he was an assistant for two years.

Coach Wilkes found his way back to Southeast High School in 1991, where he was an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Bob Thomas (Class of 2017) until 2003. Southeast finished state runner-up in 1993, and had multiple tournament championships as well as state placers during those years. In 2004, Coach Wilkes started the wrestling program at one of the oldest established schools in the area, Palmetto High School. During his tenure as head coach, the Tigers won five county championships, six district runners-up, and approached 200 dual meet wins.

In August of 2020, Bryan had to step down from coaching to pursue an administrative position, the athletic director at Palmetto High, where he is today. 

Coach Wilkes has a daughter, Logan Wilkens, who is married to Danny. He is a grandfather of Killian, 3, and Kallie, approaching one year old.