Both coaches are leaving to pursue new opportunities to continue their coaching careers, according to the announcement.

“We appreciate their hard work and the strong values they have brought to our football program,” the booster club wrote in a Facebook post.

Pruitt is departing after his fourth season with the Red Devils, finishing with a 10-2 overall record in 2025 after falling to eventual Class Rural state champion Hawthorne 30-8 in the regional finals. The season marked another double-digit win campaign for Pruitt at Williston.

In September, Pruitt became the first coach anywhere in the United States to win 200 games in two different states. He reached the milestone on Sept. 26 against Trinity Catholic, adding 200 wins in Florida to the 200 he won in Georgia. That victory put his win total at 409 games after capturing his 400th victory earlier in the 2025 season.

Pruitt’s overall coaching career record stands at 415-102-1.

During the search process, David Vaughn will serve as director of football operations, while Adrian Weeks will serve as interim head coach. Weeks will handle questions and concerns from students and the community.

The Red Devils have already started a search committee to hire a new head coach.

No timeline for the hiring process was provided in the announcement.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told FloridaHSFootball.com that Pruitt may be heading to Union County in Lake Butler, about a 40-minute drive north of Gainesville, where his name became part of the national landscape in the mid-1990s.

Pruitt gained national attention when the Union County Tigers rolled to a 52-game winning streak from 1994 to 1997 that resulted in three consecutive FHSAA Class 3A state championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

His winning efforts resulted in him being inducted into the FHSAA’s Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame at age 38 in 2008. He was noted at the time to be the youngest head coach in the state to reach 100 wins, accomplishing that feat in 1997.

Before Pruitt’s tenure at Union County in the mid-1990s, he was the head coach at University Christian in Jacksonville, where he captured four Class A state championships in 1987, 1988, 1991 and 1992.

Currently Union County suffered a setback in 2025 with a 2-8 record overall under interim head coach Lamar Waters, finishing the 2025 season with a loss to Holmes County in the Rural FIT playoffs. Union County was recently announced as one of quite a few Class Rural teams that will be departing the FHSAA in football for the Sunshine State Athletic Association’s Atlantic League.

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Trumbly, who served as an assistant coach for 11 years before being hired Feb. 13 to lead the program, finished 1-9 in his lone season as head coach. University lost its final nine games, finishing with its worst record since going 1-9 in 2018.

“Coach Trumbly has been a vital part of our athletic program since the school opened,” University athletic director Staci Hahn told the News-Journal. “His willingness to assist in any capacity, his hands-on approach, and his unwavering commitment to our students and athletes have made a lasting impact. We are deeply grateful for his service and leadership.”

The Titans faced significant roster challenges after approximately 40 players left the program in the offseason following the resignation of Trumbly’s predecessor, Justin Roberts, on Jan. 13.

“I love the kids that are here, and I got a really good coaching staff,” Trumbly told the News-Journal. “For our first year, I was really pleased with my staff. It’s got some young guys on here that I think are going to be very good coaches.”

Trumbly announced his resignation six days after University completed its season with a 28-14 loss to Deltona.

“I didn’t meet my expectations that I set for the program. I know what the program can be,” Trumbly said.

While stepping down as head coach, Trumbly will remain at University as a faculty member while determining his next steps.

The change at University marks the 14th head coaching change to be reported to the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the fourth coaching change overall to be reported in the Central Florida region.

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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.

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In a statement posted to his X account on Nov. 5, Climan said he was asked to step down as head coach, with the school citing a “change of direction” as the reason.

“I was asked to step down as head coach of the Dunedin High School Football program, citing ‘change of direction.’ I leave my position confident that the program is in good standing,” Climan wrote in the statement.

Climan, a Dunedin alum, compiled a 4-6 record in his lone season with the Falcons, including a 2-1 mark in District 3A-9 play. Dunedin was scheduled to compete in the FIT 1A-3A bracket but has since withdrawn from the tournament.

Before taking over at his alma mater, Climan served as head coach at nearby Anclote in Holiday from 2022-2023, posting a 2-18 record.

The school announced on its football X account on Nov. 7 that Lawrence “LC” Coleman will serve as interim head coach of the program. It remains unclear whether the position will officially be posted as a permanent vacancy.

In his statement, Climan thanked the players, parents, coaches, and Dunedin community for their support during his 10 months as head coach. He said he will remain at Dunedin as a teacher and coach for the foreseeable future.

“I will always support Dunedin High School and its football program. Just like with every experience, I have learned a lot about myself and people from this and will use it as an opportunity for growth,” Climan wrote.

The change at Dunedin marks the 12th overall head coaching change to the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the second in the Tampa Bay region.

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The post COACHING NEWS: Dunedin changes direction after one season under Climan’s leadership; Coleman named interim appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

The school posted a job listing with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) on Nov. 11, seeking a certified individual to oversee and facilitate the football program that was submitted by the school’s Athletic Director, Harold Barnwell.

Sherman, who was hired in August after the summer departure of Kimberry Lubin, went 0-10 in his lone season with the Jaguars in 2025. Port St. Lucie was outscored 417-40 across all 10 games, including being shut out in six contests. The Jaguars scored their most points in a regular-season finale, a 58-14 loss to cross-county rival Centennial.

The incoming hire will be Port St. Lucie’s third head coach in as many seasons.

According to the job listing, a teaching position may be available with the coaching role.

The Port St. Lucie opening marks the 11th overall head coaching change for the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the second coaching change for the Space & Treasure Coast region.

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The school posted a job listing with the Florida High School Athletic Association on Nov. 11, seeking applications for the position. Athletic Director Lauren Bradley is accepting resumes and references, with a start date of Jan. 7, 2025.

Peddy compiled a 12-17 record in three seasons with the Vipers, posting marks of 5-4 in 2023, 3-7 in 2024, and 4-6 in 2025. Lake Buena Vista competed as an independent the past two seasons.

Peddy became the school’s second head coach when he took over from Joe Rienzi in July 2023, just before the season began. The incoming hire will be the third head coach in program history for the Vipers, who opened near the Walt Disney World area in 2021.

According to the job listing, the school seeks a candidate with a proven record of success, strong communication and organizational skills, and a minimum of 3-5 years of coaching experience at the high school or collegiate level. The position requires a valid Florida teaching certificate and knowledge of FHSAA rules and regulations.

The school is expected to name a new head coach before the Christmas and New Year holiday break, with the new coach expected to be fully in place and at the school come January 7, 2026.

With Lake Buena Vista now open, it marks the 10th head coaching change to the 2025 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the third head coaching change for the Central Florida region.

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The school posted the coaching vacancy with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) on Nov. 11, the Times-Union reported. Kessel had notified the athletic department during the middle of the 2025 season that he would resign at its conclusion, according to the report.

According to the Times-Union, Kessel pointed to difficulties with workload management and challenges in recruiting enough assistant coaches to adequately staff a Class 7A program as reasons for his departure.

Kessel was hired in January 2024 and finished with a 1-19 record across two campaigns, the Times-Union reported. The Saints failed to win a game in 2024 before ending a program-record 29-game losing streak with a win over Terry Parker on Oct. 30, 2025. That losing streak was Jacksonville’s longest since Stanton dropped 30 straight games between 2012 and 2015, according to the Times-Union.

Before joining Sandalwood, Kessel held an interim position at Ponte Vedra in 2020 and worked as defensive coordinator at Nease, the Times-Union reported. He indicated plans to continue teaching at Sandalwood.

Athletic Director Frank Ancayan told the Times-Union that the school will collect applications until Nov. 21 and schedule interviews starting the week of Dec. 1.

The incoming coach will be Sandalwood’s eighth in the program’s 55-year history, the Times-Union reported.

The Sandalwood coaching change marks the ninth coaching change reported to the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the second for Northeast Florida this offseason.

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In a letter posted to his social media account on X, Blatch announced his resignation effective Nov. 7, 2025. He cited a desire to pursue new professional challenges, spend more time with family, and focus on the next chapter of his life as reasons for stepping down.

“This decision was not made lightly. However, after careful consideration, I feel it’s time to pursue new professional challenges, spend more time with my family, and focus on the next chapter of my life,” Blatch wrote in the letter.

The resignation came eight days after the Bulldogs’ 2025 season concluded, according to TCPalm.

Blatch was promoted to head coach in 2021 after serving two years as the team’s defensive coordinator, TCPalm reported. He finished with a 14-36 record during his tenure, and the Bulldogs failed to qualify for the playoffs in all five seasons.

The 2025 season saw South Fork win three of its first four games before dropping six straight to close the year, according to TCPalm.

Blatch’s most successful campaign came in 2023, when South Fork posted a 4-6 record, TCPalm reported.

A South Fork graduate and former player, Blatch said in his letter that he will remain at the school as a government teacher.

South Fork marks the eighth reported coaching change on the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van and the first for the Space & Treasure Coast region this offseason.

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The athletic department posted the news to Facebook and Instagram on Nov. 7, thanking Smith for his dedication to the Panthers program. The school listed the head coaching vacancy with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) in their classifieds section.

Smith compiled a 3-17 record in two seasons at Ridgeview, according to The Florida Times-Union. The Panthers finished 2-8 in 2025, with victories over Englewood and KIPP Bold City.

Smith was hired in December 2023 after serving as head coach at St. Johns Country Day from 2009-11, the Times-Union reported. Before joining Ridgeview, he had been a successful junior high coach at nearby Oakleaf Junior High.

The Clay County program has struggled in recent years, the Times-Union reported. Aside from a 7-4 campaign in 2020, Ridgeview has endured six 1-9 seasons and one winless season in 2016 over the past decade. The Panthers have not won more than seven games since posting a 9-2 record in 2012 under Tom MacPherson, who is now the head football coach at Fleming Island, according to the Times-Union.

The new hire will become the eighth full-time head coach in program history, the Times-Union reported.

The school will be accepting applications for the position through Friday, Nov. 21, before the Thanksgiving holiday break for Clay County schools.

Ridgeview marks the seventh head coaching position to come open on the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van, and the first coaching change for Northeast Florida.

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“I’ve resigned as Head Football Coach at Freedom High School,” Perisee wrote on X. “Coaching these young men has been an honor. I leave knowing I gave my all and remain committed to supporting the players and school. I’m excited to focus on what’s next.”

Perisee compiled a 5-14 record during his tenure with the Patriots, including a 3-6 mark in 2024 and a 2-8 record in 2025. The team failed to win any District 4A-8 games this season.

Despite the losing records, Perisee’s time at Freedom marked a significant milestone for the struggling program. In 2024, he guided the Patriots to their first victory in three years, snapping a 30-game losing streak that dated back to 2021.

Perisee took over the program in January 2024 after Christopher Short resigned. He previously served as head coach at Leto High School, where he went 6-14 in two seasons but helped turn around a program that had won only six games between 2010 and 2021.

Before his tenure at Leto, Perisee coached at Alonso High School from 2018-2019 and also served as an assistant coach at Freedom in 2021.

Freedom has not announced a timeline for naming Perisee’s replacement. The Patriots have struggled in recent years, going 8-60 overall since 2019.

The change at Freedom (Tampa) marks the fifth coaching change to be reported on the 2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van by FloridaHSFootball.com.

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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.

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Johnson, who was in his first season leading the Vikings, confirmed his departure in a Facebook in a public post approximately three hours ago and also confirmed by Football Hotbed.

“I was I Let Go Today As Head Football Coach For Miami Norland,” Johnson wrote in his post. “Anybody That Knows Me, Knows The Kids Is Who I Do It For.”

The dismissal comes with Miami Norland holding a 4-5 overall record and an 0-2 mark in District 5A-14 play. The Vikings have one district game remaining Friday night at Plantation High School’s PAL Field, with the district title still undecided.

Johnson took over the program during the 2025 offseason, replacing longtime coach Daryle Heidelburg, who moved into school administration. Heidelburg was required to relinquish his coaching duties upon accepting the administrative position.

In his social media post, Johnson reflected on his brief tenure and impact on student-athletes.

“They say if you only reach one kid out of the masses you did your job,” Johnson wrote. “Well I leave them kids today hoping I reached 1!”

Johnson indicated he plans to continue coaching elsewhere, writing, “I understand a higher calling, and what’s for me will always be for me.”

Miami Norland has not yet announced an interim coach for Friday’s season finale or provided comment on the dismissal.

This story will be updated.

The post COACHING NEWS: Miami Norland dismisses Tyronn Johnson as head coach prior to regular season finale appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

Got an addition to the list or notes to add that we might be missing? Send Joshua Wilson an email at joshua.wilson@floridahsfootball.com. Include “2026 Florida Coaches Moving Van” in the subject line.

LAST UPDATED

Thu. November 13, 2025 – 11:48 AM ET

NUMBER OF CHANGES TO DATE

14 out of 602 programs | 2.32% of programs in Florida

REGIONAL BREAKDOWN

PANHANDLE: 1

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA: 0

NORTHEAST FLORIDA: 3

CENTRAL FLORIDA: 4

TAMPA BAY: 2

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: 1

SPACE & TREASURE COAST: 2

SOUTH FLORIDA: 1

MAP

DUNEDIN

Old Coach: Greg Climan
New Coach: Lawrence “LC” Coleman (Interim)
Quick Notes: Climan was asked to step down after one season, as the school wanted to change direction back on Nov. 5. Climan went 4-6 overall as the head coach of his alma mater. On Nov. 7, the school announced Lawrence “LC” Coleman as the interim head coach.

FHSF ARTICLE: Dunedin changes direction after season under Climan’s leadership; Coleman named interim

EUSTIS

Old Coach: George Wade (interim)
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Wade stepped in as head coach for the Panthers after Darnell Harrison stepped down after one game so far going 1-8 in seven games as the interim head coach, and the school has posted an opening with the FHSAA Classifieds.

FHSF ARTICLE: Eustis and Orangewood Christian announce vacancies as 2025 regular season starts to wrap up

FREEDOM (TAMPA)

Old Coach: Ron Perisee
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Perisee stepped down after two seasons as the head coach after two seasons at the Tampa school going, 5-14 in two seasons.

FHSF ARTICLE: Perisee resigns after two seasons at Freedom (Tampa)

GADSDEN COUNTY

Old Coaches: Travis Gordon (interim); Russell Ellington (previous)
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Gordon led the team on an interim basis for the remainder of the season after Ellington resigned as the season got going, after the program was hit with FHSAA sanctions and players being declared ineligible, along with an FHSAA postseason ban for 2025. Now the school has posted an FHSAA classified ad as of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, seeking a new head coach for the 2026 season.

HILLIARD

Old Coaches: Matt Yancey
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Yancey stepped down after two seasons, going 4-16 over that stretch, citing seeking opportunities closer to home. Next coach for Hilliard will be their fifth in six years.

FHSF ARTICLE: Yancey steps down at Hilliard after two seasons

LAKE BUENA VISTA

Old Coaches: Brant Peddy
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Peddy has departed after three seasons, going 12-17 over three seasons, including a 4-6 campaign in 2025. Peddy was only the second head coach in the Vipers short history as a program.

FHSF ARTICLE: Peddy departs Lake Buena Vista after three seasons

MIAMI NORLAND

Old Coach: Tyronn Johnson
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Johnson was dismissed after going 4-5 in the first nine games as the Vikings’ head coach with the one game left on the 2025 regular season schedule and a potential playoff berth sitting in the balance.

FHSF ARTICLE: Miami Norland dismisses Tyronn Johnson as head coach prior to regular season finale

ORANGEWOOD CHRISTIAN

Old Coach: Carey Metts
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Carey Metts appears to not be returning at the Rams’ head man in 2026 as the school has already posted an FHSAA classified ad seeking a new head coach. Metts so far in five seasons is 21-28 with at least two games left on the schedule (regular season and postseason).

FHSF ARTICLE: Eustis and Orangewood Christian announce vacancies as 2025 regular season starts to wrap up

PORT ST. LUCIE

Old Coach: LaMalik Sherman
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Sherman appears to be out after one season, after an FHSAA classified ad was posted on Nov. 11, marking the opening of the position. Sherman’s departure means the school will be on their third head coach in as many seasons in 2026.

FHSF ARTICLE: Sherman out at Port St. Lucie after one season

RIDGEVIEW

Old Coach: Merlin Smith
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Smith resigned on Fri. Nov. 7 after two seasons, going 3-17 overall and going 2-8 in the 2025 campaign. The school is seeking applications for a new head football coach through Nov. 21.

FHSF ARTICLE: Smith resigns as Ridgeview head coach after two seasons

SANDALWOOD

Old Coach: Brad Kessel
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Kessel stepped down after two seasons, after going 1-19 over two season,s with the lone win coming on Oct. 30 against Terry Parker. Kessel cited issues recruiting enough assistants to manage a large Class 7A program as part of the reasons for stepping down.

FHSF ARTICLE: Kessel steps down after two seasons as head coach

SOUTH FORK

Old Coach: Antwan Blatch
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Blatch resigned on Fri. Nov. 7, after five seasons as the head coach of the Bulldogs, after going 14-36 over five seasons with the Bulldogs’ best season under Blatch’s watch coming in 2023, which was a 4-6 campaign.

FHSF ARTICLE: Blatch resigns after five seasons as South Fork head coach

UNIVERSITY (ORANGE CITY)

Old Coach: Matt Trumbly
New Coach:
Quick Notes: Trumbly resigned on Nov. 5 after one season, going 1-9. The next head coach for the Titans will be the third head coach for the team as in many seasons.

FHSF ARTICLE: Trumbly resigns after one season as head coach at University (Orange City)

WELLEN PARK

Old Coach: New School
New Coach: Sascha Hyer
Quick Notes: On October 27, Hyer was announced as the first-ever head coach for the new program that is set to launch in 2026, located between Venice and North Port. Hyer has previous head coaching experience and served as a longtime assistant coach at Venice, where he was a part of several state championship-winning teams under John Peacock.

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According to Ben Grieco, at the Pensacola News Journal, the Crusaders have hired Bobby Clayton who has been part of two overhauls at Gulf Breeze from 2016 until 2022 and at Fort Walton Beach the previous two seasons. The hire returns Clayton back to the Pensacola-area where he has spent most of his coaching career as an assistant coach and head coach.

Clayton, who will take over from Matt Adams who retired from coaching prior to the Christmas holiday, will come in with a team that is coming off a shocking exit to Walton (DeFuniak Springs) in the playoffs this past year after having one of the Crusaders’ deepest playoff runs in recent memory where Pensacola Catholic fell to Bradford (Starke) in the Class 2S state semifinals in 2023.

Clayton called the Pensacola Catholic job one of the “premier jobs in the Panhandle,” he told the News Journal.

“To be considered and to be able to accept the position is quite the honor. I’m excited to get to work and kind of keep going with the direction of where things are going (at Pensacola Catholic),” Clayton said. “There’s not anything that’s broken about Catholic, that’s for sure. I just get to pick it up and keep going.”

For Pensacola Catholic Athletic Director Richard LaBounty, Clayton was the first choice to replace Adams according to the News Journal after admiring the job he did at Gulf Breeze in taking over the program, turning it around and making them a competitive program.

As such, Clayton went 42-29 overall at Gulf Breeze, which included four playoff appearances. After leading Fort Walton Beach to a 5-5 season, the Vikings limped to a 3-7 season in 2024 and Clayton finishing 8-12 overall as head coach in two seasons as the Vikings’ head man. .

Clayton will meet with athletes and parents this coming weekend as he starts the transition and putting his touches on the Crusaders program.

Read more from the Pensacola News Journal here.

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Adams, a Pensacola Catholic alum, was a standout quarterback for the Crusaders before graduating in 2000 and serving as the head coach since the 2017 season is taking a step back after eight years. Adams became the head coach after serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach under previous head coach Greg Seibert. 

Adams said he is stepping down to spend more time with his family.

“I don’t know if there is ever a right time. I’m sad to go, but also it was good timing with my family to step back and spend some more time with them,” Adams told the Pensacola News Journal. “It’s a great school. I love the administration. A lot of my closest friends are there now, or were there, so I’ve had a lot of great relationships. It’s been a big part of my life, but I’m glad I’ll still get to be part of the school community.”

The biggest success for Adams came in 2023 when the Crusaders reached the playoffs and came close to reaching the Class 2S State Championship game that ended in a stunning overtime loss at Bradford (Starke) in the state semifinals.

Adams will remain at the school as the director of facilities and events at Pensacola Catholic.

No timeline has been set as to when Pensacola Catholic will hire its next head coach.

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