Orange schools seeking coaches
Freedom and Edgewater joined a quickly expanding club Tuesday: Central Florida high schools looking for new football coaches.
Freedom coach Andy Johnson resigned and immediately became a potential candidate for several other available area jobs. Edgewater decided to reopen its coaching search after going 3-8 under interim coach Dave Wensyel.
Johnson had a 23-10 record in the past three seasons, including a 7-4 mark this year and Freedom’s first playoff appearance since 2005. He was hired as an assistant when the school opened in 2003 and went 37-36 in seven seasons as head coach.
“I’m just ready for a new direction and a new challenge, and I wanted Freedom to be able to move forward, too,” said Johnson, whose Patriots lost to Tampa Plant in a Class 8A region quarterfinal.
“I’ve coached all over, and I plan to look all over for the next challenge. I’m not tied down to the area. I’m open to any possibility, but my first preference is to be a head coach again.”
Athletic director Kevin Demer said Freedom is accepting résumés through Dec. 19 and plans to interview candidates when school resumes in January.
At Edgewater, the Eagles are following a plan they announced when Wensyel replaced Zac Yarbrough, who was dismissed after one season. “We stated all along this was an interim position,’’ Eagles athletic director Valerie Miyares said. ”Whether we won a state title or went 0-10, wewould have opened it up. Coach Wensyel is welcome to reapply.”
Wensyel took over the team five weeks before spring practice and led the Eagles to the playoffs, when they lost to Evans in a 7A first-round matchup.
A new coach would be Edgewater’s fourth in four years.
”Our goal moving forward is longevity,” Miyares said. “We want someone who could spend 10 years with us and build our program back up.”
Edgewater will accept applications through Dec. 10 and plans to announce a hire by Dec. 21.
The Eagles ( 3- 8) are coming off their first losing season since going 4-6 in 1998.
Five other area schools have vacancies: Boone, Wekiva, West Orange, Hagerty and Winter Springs.