New beginnings: Here's where the 8 Big Bend football head coach exits ended up
It's been a crazy calendar year when it comes to coaching changes in the Big Bend. Six head coaches departed their programs, and two made exiting announcements during the regular season. We saw one of the winningest coaches in state history leave for Georgia and another head down the street to Florida State.
The dust has finally settled as programs have hired new head coaches and the old ones have found new homes. Here is where the eight Big Bend head coaching exits ended up.
Mike Coe
Former team: Madison County (12 seasons)
Current position: Head coach at Coffee County (Ga.)
Coe's resignation from Madison County was one that shook the Big Bend. The long-time Cowboys head coach was fresh off his fourth state championship in five seasons and has stood as one of the most successful coaches in Big Bend football history.
Following his resignation in late February, Coe accepted the head coaching position at Coffee County in Douglas, Ga. Since making a move, he's brought a handful of Florida coaches with him, including two former Panhandle head coaches in Alex Lehky (Munroe) and Beau Johnson (Blountstown).
In late March, Madison County announced that Dunnellon's Price Harris had been hired as the next head football coach.
More: Madison County football coach Mike Coe resigns, accepts new job in Georgia
More: Dunnellon's Price Harris named next Madison County head football coach
Alex Lehky
Former team: Munroe (three seasons)
Current position: Assistant coach at Coffee County (Ga.)
In early January, Munroe School announced that Lehky was promoted to a higher role in the football program as director and Russell Ellington took over the head coaching position. While Ellington is still in the head coaching position, Lehky has recently made the move to Douglas.
In late May, Coffee County's football program began tagging Lehky in tweets and Lehky eventually changed his bio to "Teacher/Coach @ Coffee County Schools". Lehky propelled the Munroe program to a small school championship contender, leading the Bobcats to their first playoff win.
More: Russell Ellington named Munroe football head coach, Lehky named director of football
More: Head coaching change, PAC 12 commitment, Power 5 offers elevating Munroe football to new heights
Corey Fuller
Former team: Gadsden County (three seasons in second stint)
Current position: Director of football relations at Florida State
Fuller has been a staple of Big Bend football since his high school days. He's played at Rickards and Florida State and coached at Rickards, East Gadsden, West Gadsden, Godby, Gadsden County, and FAMU. In late January, Fuller announced in a speech to his team, which was later posted to Facebook, that he was leaving Gadsden County for a job opportunity with Florida State football.
He is now at his alma mater as the director of football relations. In his final season at Gadsden County, the Jaguars went 3-7, making it all the way to regional semifinals. In late March, Victor Winters announced that he had been hired as the next head football coach at Gadsden County.
More: Corey Fuller resigns as Gadsden County head football coach, accepts job at Florida State
More: 'Best teacher is experience': How Corey Fuller aims to guide and inspire FSU football players
More: Winters express importance of community in introduction as next Gadsden County head football coach
Cedric Jones
Former team: FAMU DRS (six seasons)
Current position: Head coach at Palm Beach Lakes
The Baby Rattlers had a unique situation last fall, reliving Jones of coaching duties mid-season following an 0-5 start. Athletic director Willie Williams stepped in as interim head coach for the rest of the season. Jones remained on staff as an IT coordinator but has since left FAMU DRS. In February, FAMU DRS introduced Alex Williams, Willie's son, as the next head football coach.
In late January, Jones announced that he was heading the football program at Palm Beach Lakes High School, the longest haul by any of the eight exiting Big Bend coaches. The Rams were in a similar position to DRS last season, going 2-8 before Al Shipman, the longest-tenured head coach in the county, was relieved of his duties.
More: FAMU DRS relieves Jones of football head coaching duties, Williams steps in as interim head coach
More: Palm Beach Lakes football finds new hire in ex-FAMU DRS, John Paul II coach Cedric Jones
Garrett Jahn
Former team: Leon (five seasons)
Current position: Quarterback/associate head coach at Lincoln
Jahn was one of two head coaches that stayed in the Big Bend coaching scene following his exit. At the end of Leon's season, finishing 1-8, Jahn announced his resignation from the program. Prior to his time at Leon, Jahn had spent three seasons at Chiles.
Two months later, Lincoln announced that Jahn had joined the program as the quarterback coach/associate head coach. Last season the Trojans went 9-3, falling to Mosley in regional semifinals by a field goal. At Leon, Tyrone McGriff was named the new head coach in December.
More: 'Coaching is in my blood.' Tyrone McGriff named football coach at Leon High
Brandon McCray
Former team: Godby (three seasons)
Current position: Offensive line coach/on-campus recruiter at Lincoln
McCray took a similar path to Jahn when it came to finding his next coaching opportunity. McCray mutually parted from Godby in November following a 3-8 record and an 0-8 start to the season. In late January, McCray was brought onto Lincoln's program as an offensive line coach and the on-campus recruiter.
Lincoln did face Godby last season, seeing the Trojans come away with a narrow 40-37 win over the Cougars. Since joining the coaching staff, McCray has been actively involved in advertising Lincoln's program on social media. McCray is a Lincoln grad.
In December, Demario Jones was named the next head coach of the Godby football program.
More: Godby's Brandon McCray, Leon's Garrett Jahn announce departures from football programs
More: 'Our goal is to win in life': Jones focused on building character through football at Godby
Ira Reynolds
Former team: Jefferson County (two seasons)
Current position: Assistant coach at Sebastian River High School
After announcing his resignation from Jefferson County as head coach and athletic director in early November, and retirement from coaching football, he is back in the game. This week, Reynolds announced on Facebook that he'd be joining the coaching staff at Sebastian River High school as an assistant coach.
Sebastian River is located north of Vero Beach on the Treasure Coast. It's a strong hire for the Sharks as Reynolds has coached for over a decade, notably leading FAMU DRS to a state championship in 2006. The Sharks went 3-5 last season.
In March, Jefferson County announced that Lenorris Footman had been hired as the next head football coach.
More: Jefferson County head coach Ira Reynolds announces departure from program
More: Jefferson County announces Lenorris Footman as next head football coach
Lance Ramer
Former team: Maclay (six seasons)
Current position: Heading Total Game Sports
Maclay announced in January that Ramer had been relieved of head football coaching duties, and was going to work at Maclay as an assistant athletic director at the school through May 2022. In February, Maclay announced that Jason Cauley was the next head coach.
Ramer has recently started a youth sports program, Total Game Sports, in Tallahassee. The program recently ran a flag football league for boys and girls from ages seven to 14. Ramer is also facilitating youth summer sports camps through the program, run by Maclay coaches and athletes, and held at Maclay. Ramer is also a motivational speaker.
More: Jason Cauley named next Maclay head football coach
Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here's where the 8 Big Bend football head coach exits ended up
