COACHES MOVING VAN NOTEBOOK: John Palmer officially returning to Port St. Joe

Palmer officially returning to Port St. Joe

What is just one part of the worst kept secrets coming out of the search for both head coaching searches in Gulf County, the biggest of them was officially settled today. John Palmer is returning to be the head coach and athletic director at Port St. Joe, where he won a state title in 2005. Palmer who went 57-27 in his first stint, according to the Panama City News-Herald was officially recommended Friday afternoon to take the position. However, Palmer still will have to be officially approved by the Gulf County School Board next month, the report says. Palmer was previously head coach at Hernando, his alma mater from 2008 until 200. Read more on Palmer’s hiring here.

Tillman heading to Wewahitchka

The second part of the worst kept secret in Gulf County was the position at Wewahitchka where it was also recommended that the Gulf County School Board officially hire Loren Tillman as head coach. Tillman is the former head coach at Bozeman near Panama City, where he just recently resigned as head coach and athletic director. The Panama City News-Herald reports that Tillman is the official recommendation to take over from outgoing head coach and athletic director, Dennis Kizziah. Tillman was 33-56 in his nine years according to Brad Milner’s tweet.

Raulerson resigns at Providence; Kopp hired the same day

Bobby Raulerson resigned at Providence yesterday after three seasons as the head coach, but it didn’t take long to find a replacement. Jeff Kopp who was hired as Raulerson’s replacement broke the news himself on Twitter yesterday.

Just offered and accepted HC Football job at Providence. Really excited for this opportunity to lead this program to competitive greatness.

— Jeff Kopp (@Kopper57) January 16, 2014

Providence’s Athletic Director Ron Pompeo said that Kopp was a natural for the position, according to a report from The Florida Times-Union. Kopp will inherit a team that went 6-5 and the made the Class 3A playoffs during the 2013 season. You can read more about Kopp’s hiring here.

New coach hired at Middleton

Jeff George Jr., who is the son of former Tampa Bay Bandit, Jeff George, Sr., has been hired as the new head coach at Middleton, Andy Warrener of the Tampa Bay Times reports. George Jr. replaces Alonzo Ashwood who went 4-26 in three seasons. George had previously been an assistant with First Coast in Jacksonville and at Beloit College in Wisconsin. Read the full report from the Times here.

Wolfson parts ways with head coach

Walter Williams parted ways with Wolfson High School in Jacksonville today after two seasons as the head coach. Justin Barney of the Florida Times-Union broke the news Friday morning via Twitter.

Wolfson has parted ways with HSFB coach Walter Williams after 2 seasons, according to AD Cindy Talley.

— Justin Barney (@JustinBarneyTU) January 17, 2014

Walter Williams was 5-15 in 2 seasons with Wolfson. He took over for Greg Meyer,.School hopes to post job early next week.

— Justin Barney (@JustinBarneyTU) January 17, 2014

Southeast down to four finalist for its coaching search

Multiple media outlets in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, including the Sarasota Herald-Tribune announced that Southeast was down to four finalist to replace the legendary Paul Maechtle. According to the report by the Herald-Tribune, Matt Kitchie, Brian McKnight, Brett Timmons and John Warren are the four finalist for the position. Kitchie is the current head coach at Leto in Tampa, while Timmons who is a Southeast alum, is the current head coach at Out-of-Door Academy. To read the full report and more background information on each of the candidates, click here.

McArthur finds new head coach in Buster Davis.

Dieter Kurtenbach of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported earlier today that Buster Davis has been hired at McArthur in Hollywood. Davis previously coached at Duval Charter in Jacksonville and at Admiral Farragut in St. Petersburg. Davis fired during the 2012 season at Duval Charter while he only lasted through Spring Football in 2013 before being dismissed as head coach at Admiral Farragut.

I’m told McArthur has hired former FSU and NFL linebacker Buster Davis as head coach. He was at Farragut-St. Pete and Duval Charter.

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) January 17, 2014