Senate Bill 538

[gatorman-uf]

I would encourage people to look at SB538 and how it applies to coaches' salaries. It does not set a minimum salary (as the Coaches' Coalition has repeatedly advocated); it simply takes the power to negotiate stipends away from the unions and gives it unilaterally to school boards. School boards MAY (not required to) set coaching stipends at whatever they want while negotiating with the coach, without regard to the union contract. 

If (and when) this passes, it will not solve the problem systematically. While doing this, school boards will also be able to completely eliminate all other stipends, because, god forbid, the cross-country coach gets paid.

(k) Athletic coach compensation.—The district school board may, at its sole discretion, determine and approve the compensation of any person employed as an athletic coach, assistant coach, or athletic program supervisor, regardless of whether such individual is classified as instructional personnel. Compensation may exceed any salary schedule, supplement, or stipend otherwise prescribed and may be paid in any form or amount deemed appropriate by the district school board, including, but not limited to, salaries, stipends, bonuses, performance-based incentives, and hourly or per601 assignment pay. Such compensation is considered part of the coach’s total compensation. The limitations on supplemental pay applicable to instructional personnel under this section or any other law do not apply to compensation provided under this paragraph.

[i4football]

not so fast my friend!

 

The Breakdown: Florida SB 538 (2026) & The Future of Coach Pay

Florida is finally moving to stop the "brain drain" of elite coaches to Georgia and Alabama. Here is exactly what is on the table for the 2026 season.

 

1. What the Bill Actually Does

The bill SB 538 (and House companion HB 731) changes the game for athletic compensation in three ways:

• Decouples Coaches from Unions: Coaches will no longer be tied to teacher union collective bargaining for their athletic stipends. They can negotiate individual contracts directly with school boards.
• Performance Bonuses: For the first time, contracts can include incentive-based pay for hitting milestones like playoff appearances or state titles.
• Eligibility & Appeals: It streamlines the process for student eligibility, ensuring decisions are made within 20 days so athletes aren't sitting out while paperwork is stuck in limbo.

 

2. The Booster Club "Booster": More Power, With a Catch

Currently, if a booster club wants to pay a coach extra under the table, it’s a major violation. This bill brings that money into the light.

• The Enhanced Role: School boards are authorized to accept booster donations specifically to fund coaching salaries. This allows "football-crazy" towns to raise the funds needed to hire a top-tier HC without using taxpayer dollars.
• The Check & Balance: To prevent boosters from "owning" the coach, the law mandates that boosters cannot control the provision of funds. The money must go to the School Board first, which then pays the coach. The board remains the only entity that can hire, fire, or evaluate the coach—not the booster president.

 

3. The "No Cap" System & Key Supporters

The "No Cap" model is the most talked-about feature for big-time programs.

• How it Works: There is no state-mandated maximum for what a coach can earn. Under this system, a coach’s pay is limited only by what the School Board approves and what the community can raise. If a school and its boosters want to pay $100k+ to match Georgia salaries, this bill provides the legal framework to do it.
• Who is Backing This:
  • Florida Coaches Coalition (FCC): The primary driver behind the bill, representing over 16,000 coaches.
  • FHSAA: Generally supportive of measures that improve athletic standards and coach retention.
  • State Legislators: Led by Senator Cory Simon (a former FSU and NFL star), who argues that coaches are effectively "mentors" and "CEOs" of large programs who deserve professional-grade pay.

The Bottom Line: If this passes, the days of the $4,500 head coaching stipend are over. Florida programs will finally have the tools to keep their best coaches at home.

[Hwy17]

How is this going to affect the hiring and firing process?  Would the school board now do that? Will principals no longer have a say in the decision making process? 

School boards, as an elected board, are by nature, political.  If several members of the school board are alums or supporters of a particular school, what keeps them from funding or showing favoritism to one school at the expense of others?

[i4football]

1 hour ago, Hwy17 said:

How is this going to affect the hiring and firing process?  Would the school board now do that? Will principals no longer have a say in the decision making process? 

School boards, as an elected board, are by nature, political.  If several members of the school board are alums or supporters of a particular school, what keeps them from funding or showing favoritism to one school at the expense of others?

Tell you what, or let me ask you this? Have you taken the time to check out how the county you have particular interest in actually handles the hiring process for at-will hires or non-contractual hires. No shooting from the hip type answers accepted, I suggest you provide a answer supported with actual reciepts. You might find its not the simple process your mind has allowed you to think it is...................noimsayin?

[Hwy17]

4 hours ago, i4football said:

Tell you what, or let me ask you this? Have you taken the time to check out how the county you have particular interest in actually handles the hiring process for at-will hires or non-contractual hires. No shooting from the hip type answers accepted, I suggest you provide a answer supported with actual reciepts. You might find its not the simple process your mind has allowed you to think it is...................noimsayin?

Well as you likely know, there's only one high school in the county I live in. It's my understanding the principal has the final say in who is hired, and can fire for cause within the personal policy adopted by the school board. The last couple of head football coaches were hired based of  recommendation of a selection committee that did the interviewing and ranking of candidates.  Ultimately it was the principal's decision.  A few coaches back, the principal at the time overrode the selection committee and hired the 2nd choice. So back to the question, will this bill require a change in how we hire? 

[i4football]

1 hour ago, Hwy17 said:

Well as you likely know, there's only one high school in the county I live in. It's my understanding the principal has the final say in who is hired, and can fire for cause within the personal policy adopted by the school board. The last couple of head football coaches were hired based of  recommendation of a selection committee that did the interviewing and ranking of candidates.  Ultimately it was the principal's decision.  A few coaches back, the principal at the time overrode the selection committee and hired the 2nd choice. So back to the question, will this bill require a change in how we hire? 

Is why I suggested you look further into it, because while the principle makes a selection...final approving authority isnt typically his.

In the School Board of Hardee County (Florida), the hiring process for school-related positions—particularly instructional roles like teachers—typically involves a collaborative but structured approach where the high school principal (or principal at any school level) plays a key role in selection, but does not have final hiring authority unilaterally.Here's how it generally works based on standard Florida school district practices (governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 on personnel, local board policies, and observed patterns in Hardee County):

• Principal's Role: The principal (or site administrator) usually leads the interview process, evaluates candidates, and makes a recommendation or selection from qualified applicants. For example:
  • Applications are submitted centrally through the district's HR department (via the online portal on hardee.k12.fl.us).
  • HR screens for basic qualifications (certification, background checks, etc.) and forwards eligible candidates to the school/principal.
  • The principal interviews, often with input from assistant principals or team members, and identifies their preferred candidate(s).
• Final Approval Requirement: The principal's selection does not become final on its own. It requires district-level approval, typically involving:
  • Superintendent (or designee): The superintendent reviews and approves recommendations before they go further. This is common in Florida districts to ensure compliance, budget alignment, and equity.
  • School Board: For many positions (especially instructional/teaching roles), the School Board formally approves hires during regular meetings. Board meeting minutes from Hardee County historically show agenda items for "personnel recommendations," "new hires," or "approval of recommendations" (often in consent agendas), where the Board votes to ratify hires. This includes teachers, assistants, and other staff.

This is consistent with Florida law and most small/rural district policies: Principals have significant input and often the de facto "selection" power at the site level, but the hire is not official until cleared by HR, the superintendent, and ultimately the School Board (or delegated authority in some cases for non-instructional roles).

So what you picked up on as a change in final hiring and firing authority by the state legislators, was actually standard hiring/firing final authority.

[Hwy17]

My county aside, you don't think favoritism is going to get shown in larger counties? IMO, it'll all get delegated to the superintendent.

[i4football]

13 minutes ago, Hwy17 said:

My county aside, you don't think favoritism is going to get shown in larger counties? IMO, it'll all get delegated to the superintendent.

Could it? Sure, but the reality of it happening as a normal business practice—I'd say the chance is negligible at best... particularly in larger counties or school districts. The oversight/approval process is a typical one, and my point here was to show that despite the bill's language, this structure is already in place in practically every school board before the bill was even introduced. Let's face it: If this passes, no school board is going to allocate taxpayer-generated revenue to push a football coach's pay into six figures (or anywhere close). Those kinds of jumps, when possible, will come from private sources like booster associations/organizations—funneled through the board as the bill requires (with built-in checks so boosters can't directly control or "own" the coach). Before it even reaches the final oversight step (superintendent/board ratification), there's already an established relationship between the principal and that authority. Beyond maybe a few routine questions, the reality is it's usually a done deal once the principal recommends.

[Hwy17]

On 1/30/2026 at 7:12 PM, i4football said:

Is why I suggested you look further into it, because while the principle makes a selection...final approving authority isnt typically his.

In the School Board of Hardee County (Florida), the hiring process for school-related positions—particularly instructional roles like teachers—typically involves a collaborative but structured approach where the high school principal (or principal at any school level) plays a key role in selection, but does not have final hiring authority unilaterally.Here's how it generally works based on standard Florida school district practices (governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 on personnel, local board policies, and observed patterns in Hardee County):

• Principal's Role: The principal (or site administrator) usually leads the interview process, evaluates candidates, and makes a recommendation or selection from qualified applicants. For example:
  • Applications are submitted centrally through the district's HR department (via the online portal on hardee.k12.fl.us).
  • HR screens for basic qualifications (certification, background checks, etc.) and forwards eligible candidates to the school/principal.
  • The principal interviews, often with input from assistant principals or team members, and identifies their preferred candidate(s).
• Final Approval Requirement: The principal's selection does not become final on its own. It requires district-level approval, typically involving:
  • Superintendent (or designee): The superintendent reviews and approves recommendations before they go further. This is common in Florida districts to ensure compliance, budget alignment, and equity.
  • School Board: For many positions (especially instructional/teaching roles), the School Board formally approves hires during regular meetings. Board meeting minutes from Hardee County historically show agenda items for "personnel recommendations," "new hires," or "approval of recommendations" (often in consent agendas), where the Board votes to ratify hires. This includes teachers, assistants, and other staff.

This is consistent with Florida law and most small/rural district policies: Principals have significant input and often the de facto "selection" power at the site level, but the hire is not official until cleared by HR, the superintendent, and ultimately the School Board (or delegated authority in some cases for non-instructional roles).

So what you picked up on as a change in final hiring and firing authority by the state legislators, was actually standard hiring/firing final authority.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17foVM8ciN/?mibextid=Nif5oz

I was going to post this a few days ago. Hardee made a coaching change while nobody was watching. 

[i4football]

Great hire! You see what Charlotte got for a coaching uograde?

[Hwy17]

4 hours ago, i4football said:

Great hire! You see what Charlotte got for a coaching uograde?

Yes. Kinda surprised to see that.