One of the last open positions for a head coach heading into fall practice is officially now filled.
On Tuesday Gibbs named Ja’Vonta Trotter, a 2008 Boca Ciega grad, as their head coach filling the position left open two weeks ago by the sudden resignation of Antonio Knox from his second tenure this decade as the Gladiators head man, Tampa Bay Times’ Rodney Page reported.
Ja’Vonta Trotter has been named head coach at Gibbs. Trotter is a 2008 Boca Ciega grad who coached at Murray State last year.
— Rodney Page (@Rodneywpage) July 31, 2018
Trotter, who coach at Murray State as an assistant coach last season, where he also played college football at, will have a lot of work ahead of him ahead of the first regular season game on August 24 against Tampa Catholic.
Trotter knows he will have to move quickly to assemble a plan and hire some new assistant coaches to work with him.
“We got to come up with a plan,” Trotter told the Times. “It will be a challenge.”
Trotter becomes the sixth head coach since the 2008 season for the Gladiators and the Gibbs position marks his first as a head coach.











![Eagle's View is among the teams competiting in the FHSAA District Tournaments this week. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Day-1-Flag-Football-Scoreboard-Districts-120x86.jpg)

![Ponte Vedra is one of eight undefeated teams in flag football left as district tournaments take place this coming week in the Sunshine State [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FLAG-FOOTBALL-Not-All-Undefeated-Records-Are-Created-Equal-—-Breaking-Down-All-Eight-Perfect-Teams-Entering-the-2026-District-Tournaments-120x86.jpg)
![Alonso carries on with title defense as the defending Class 4A state champions as district tournaments take place this week, sporting a perfect 15-0 record. [Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Class-4A-Flag-Football-Districts-Preview-120x86.jpg)
![Defending Class 3A State Champion Seminole Ridge is on top of the Class 3A rankings heading into the district tournaments this coming week. [Seminole Ridge High School/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Class-3A-Flag-Football-Districts-Preview-120x86.jpg)
![Robinson is continuing to add to their dynasty as they seek to repeat as Class 2A state champions as they go for a record 10th straight state championship and 11th overall [@jasonlpak/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Class-2A-Flag-Football-Districts-Preview-120x86.jpg)
