COACHING NEWS: Yancey steps down at Hilliard after two seasons

HILLIARD, Fla. — Matt Yancey is stepping down after two seasons as head coach of the Hilliard Red Flashes, he told FloridaHSFootball.com in a message Thursday via X.

Yancey cited a desire to pursue opportunities closer to home as his primary reason for leaving.

The next head coach will be the fifth at the northwestern Nassau County school in the past six years, following John Pate, Waylon Cox, Daniel Thomas and Yancey.

Hilliard went 4-16 under Yancey, missing the Class Rural playoffs both seasons. The Red Flashes showed improvement in 2025, going 3-7 after a 1-9 mark in 2024.

The Pride of Hilliard Football Club also announced Yancey’s departure on Thursday on Facebook, thanking him for his contributions to the program.

“We would like to wish Coach Yancey the best as he steps away from his role as head football coach and moves into his next chapter,” the post read. “We appreciate the time and effort he’s given to our boys and program, and we’re glad he’ll still be around teaching weightlifting and working with our students for the time being.”

The program expressed optimism about the future, stating it looks forward to “a fresh start, new energy, and continued growth for our players and community.”

No timetable has been set for hiring Yancey’s replacement, and no official job posting has been made.

Hilliard becomes the 13th coaching change on the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the third in the Northeast Florida region.

VIEW THE 2026 FLORIDA COACHES MOVING VAN