Florida high school coaches push for more reasonable salaries

Florida high school coaches are hoping for better pay over a three-year term as soon as the 2026-27 sports season opens. That’s what the Florida Coaches Coalition brought up in their recent meeting in Orlando.

According to News4Jax sports editor Justin Barney, the stipend that coaches receive for an entire season’s work varies. For high school football, the supplement ranges from Broward County’s $3,038 to Charlotte County’s $8,317.

Likewise, only 17 counties pay coaches for spring football, while only 23 counties provide monetary incentives for teams that reach the state playoffs. Negotiations for supplements are carried out through a collective bargaining agreement and could vary per county. However, the coalition is pushing for a minimum wage for all Florida coaches.

Worst yet, most Florida high school coaches work during the summer without additional pay. It’s a vital time to prepare for the season because that’s when players can commence their conditioning via weight rooms. Players could also be on recruiting visits, while teams could have a summer camp.

Andrew Ramjit, the coalition’s executive director, mentioned that their call for better pay is gaining some strides in their quest for better wages. Unfortunately, the delay in progress forced other coaches to seek better-paying jobs in states like Texas or Georgia.

Luckily for Florida high school coaches, they have allies among lawmakers like Rep. Adam Anderson. The representative shared through News4JAX several options, including revenue from Florida’s gambling industry, to generate additional wages for high school coaches.