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Santa Fe (Florida) hires former NFL player Earnest Graham as head coach

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•02/11/25•

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Earnest Graham - Florida high school football
© Andrew West/The News-Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The struggling Santa Fe Raiders welcome former NFL running back Earnest Graham as their head coach for the 2025 season. Graham will be the Florida high school football team’s fourth head coach since 2022 and they’re hoping for his success.

As he mentioned with the Gainesville Sun’s Noah Ram, the Santa Fe job opening provides the best opportunity for Graham to help young men succeed. The running back who played in nine NFL seasons was also impressed with the school’s football community and its facilities.

Before joining Santa Fe High School, Graham was Gainesville High’s offensive coordinator. It’s another role that bolstered his status as a Florida football legend. Coaching with fellow Florida Gators teammate Ian Scott, Gainesville improved by one win in 2022 and 2023 to five wins last year.

Earnest Graham will be taking over a team that won only two games since 2021. The Raiders finished with a 1-9 record under head coach Joe Szymanski during the 2022-23 season. Two years later, Jovante Hayes coached Santa Fe to the same record.

Santa Fe’s last winning season came in 2015-16, completing an 8-4 record under Bill Wiles. Meanwhile, the Raiders won the 1991 Class 3A state championship by defeating Haines City 41-7. Three years later, Santa Fe took home a Class 4A state title by beating Lake Wales 25-6.

Earnest Graham’s playing and coaching career

Graham’s imprint in Florida high school football started when he won the 1997 Mr. Football award for Mariner High School. In addition to that recognition, he was also a Parade Magazine All-American.

Graham finished his high school football career with 5,710 yards and 86 touchdowns. Those numbers led the Florida High School Athletic Association to include him among the “100 Greatest Players of the First 100 Years” list in 2007.

The Naples-born running back continued his football career with the Florida Gators, wherein he became a 2001 Second-Team All-SEC member. Graham was also a 1999 SEC All-Freshman Team member.

While he went undrafted in 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him. The Buccaneers were the only NFL team he played for, tallying 2,047 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in nine seasons.

After his playing career, Graham used his football knowledge to transform the North Fort Myers football program. From a 0-10 record before he took over, the Red Knights became a .500 team in his first three seasons and completed an undefeated run in 2017.

After his North Fort Myers stint, Earnest Graham coached for Cape Coral’s Oasis High School. He then transferred to Evangelical Christian and Woodward Academy, where he coached his son, Myles Graham. The younger Graham followed in his father’s footsteps by playing college football for the Gators.