GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With the final step to fully closing the 2017 season is almost here, we are proud to reveal our candidates for our Class 1A Coach of the Year candidates. For Coach of the Year, five coaches are selected as candidates based upon the resume they had for the season. For Player of the Year, three players are selected on offense and three on defense as candidates for Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. One player from each classification of the six candidates total will be selected as the Overall Player of the Year for their respective classification.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Watch the first team reveal for all eight classifications including the award winners for Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Overall Player of the Year, this Wednesday night on the FloridaHSFootball.com Gridiron Report on Varsity Sports Network, starting at 8:00 p.m. EST / 7:00 p.m. CST by clicking here.
Without further ado, here at the candidates for 2017 Class 1A Coach of the Year:
• Mike Coe, Madison County (14-0) – Lead Madison County to their first perfect season in Cowboys history capped off with their first state championship in a decade and first state championship game appearance since 2013.
• McKinley Rolle, Wildwood (9-1) – Revived Wildwood’s program in his first season on the job including a trip to the regional semifinals.
• Greg Jordan, Blountstown (11-2) – Took Blountstown to second state championship game in four years.
• Blake Wilson, Chipley (8-4) – Improved Chipley’s win total from 3 wins to 8 wins and helping Chipley reach the regional finals for the first time since 2011.
• Eric Richeson, Cross City Dixie County (11-1) – In his first season as head coach, lead Bears to undefeated regular season plus first playoff and regional final appearance since 2013.
![Ponte Vedra is making its debut in the Florida Top 25 this week. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Week-6-Florida-Top-25-and-Classification-Rankings-Flag-Football-Featured-120x86.jpg)
![The FHSAA established the first playoff rules for football in 1963 which led to the meeting of Robinson (Tampa) and Coral Gables for the Class AA State Championship in this photo that was published in the now-defunct Miami News on Sat. Dec. 14, 1963. [Associated Press Wirephoto, The Miami News via Newspapers.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/History-Huddle-Featured-FHSAA-Establishes-first-playoff-rules-1963-120x86.jpg)
![The Bradford Tornadoes are going into spring break undefeated. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Flag-Football-Final-North-Central-Florida-March-10-15-2025-120x86.jpg)
![Robinson (Tampa) - defending State Champions from 2024 - is back on top as the No. 1 overall team in the Sunshine State in our girls flag football Florida Top 25. [Robinson Flag Football - @RobinsonFlag/X]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-Week-4-Girls-Flag-Football-Rankings-120x86.jpg)
![Teams across the state participated in the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. over the weekend. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-Girls-Flag-Football-Preview-Featured-120x86.jpg)
