COACHING NEWS: Eustis and Orangewood Christian announce vacancies as 2025 regular season starts to wrap up

The FloridaHSFootball.com 2026 Coaches Moving Van added two more entries Monday night as Eustis and Orangewood Christian both posted head coaching vacancies on the FHSAA Classified Ads, with both schools looking to get a head start on filling upcoming openings.

Eustis seeking fifth head coach in past two years

Eustis head football coach Darnell Harrison stepped down after the first week of the 2025 season following a 37-0 loss to East Ridge High School, marking the fourth head coaching change for the Panthers in just two years.

Athletic Director Matthew Burgess named George Wade as interim head coach, and Wade has been leading the team ever since, according to Lake and Sumter Style Magazine on Aug. 26.

“This is in no way Eustis throwing in the towel,” Burgess told Lake and Sumter Style Magazine. “We fully expect to win football games this year. Coach Wade is stepping in to keep us focused on our goals and to give our athletes the best chance to succeed.”

The move comes with Eustis holding a 1-7 overall record and an 0-2 mark in District 3A-6 play.

Wade’s lone victory so far as interim coach came in Week 2 against Atlantic (Port Orange) in a 12-6 overtime thriller. However, the Panthers have dropped six consecutive games since, including a 65-6 district loss to rival Tavares in Week 6.

Wade is expected to finish out the season as interim head coach. Eustis has two games remaining on its schedule: a rivalry matchup at Mount Dora which is their last remaining district game and a road contest at Oviedo.

The Panthers’ coaching position continues a revolving door that has seen Frank Scott, Joe Burnett, Harrison and now Wade at the helm over the past two years.

Metts appearing to be heading for departure at Orangewood Christian

Orangewood Christian in Maitland is seeking a new varsity head football coach, with fifth-year head coach Carey Metts appearing to be departing the program at season’s end.

Metts, who brought 27 years of head coaching experience from Georgia and North Carolina when he arrived in Florida in 2021, has guided the Rams to a 4-4 record heading into their final regular season game this week at Faith Christian. Metts is expected to finish out the 2025 season.

During his tenure at Orangewood Christian, Metts has so far compiled a 21-28 overall record:

• 2021: 5-6
• 2022: 2-8
• 2023: 4-5
• 2024: 6-5
• 2025: 4-4 (season ongoing)

The Rams’ playoff fate remains uncertain as they await the Sunshine State Athletic Association’s release of playoff brackets over the weekend for the 11-Man League.