Palm Bay departure sends Pirates to football coaching search
Palm Bay High football coach Jake Owens found a job he termed the "perfect fit" in a part of the country he loves, meaning the Pirates have joined the list of Brevard County football teams in search of a head coach.
Owens will be heading out of state for his next job after two season at Palm Bay, taking over at Scott High in Taylor Mill, Ky.
"Palm Bay is an incredible place to work, and I love those kids," he said. "Everyone is so supportive, and the principal (Jud Kaminski) is a great guy. I'm very proud of what we accomplished. We made huge strides very quickly."
Owens has coached for more than two decades, including two stops as a head coach. He previously led the Space Coast program and was just the second head coach to guide the Vipers to the FHSAA regional playoffs. In two seasons leading Palm Bay football, the Pirates improved from one win before his arrival to 4-6 in 2021 and 8-4 last fall with a regional semifinal appearance.
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Palm Bay athletic director Brian Crowley said the search for a new head coach begins immediately.
Four Brevard schools already completed head coaching transitions in football since the end of the 2022 season. Heritage promoted Mykel Benson to follow Mark Ainsley in its top job. Bayside named Billy Miller, previously the Eau Gallie defensive coordinator. MCC hired Cocoa assistant and former Holy Trinity head coach Nate Hooks. And last Friday, Astronaut announced the hiring of DeLand associate head coach Logan Hallock to take over the War Eagles program.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Palm Bay high school football coaching search begins
