High school
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It’s not uncommon for coaching salaries to exceed six figures in neighboring states such as Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Berkeley, located roughly 35 miles northeast of Charleston, inherits a coach that went 32-5 the past three years with an undefeated season and FHSAA state championship win in 2020.
Lodge, a UCF graduate and Okeechobee native, previously coached under Don Stark at Seminole and Orlando University. He took over at Seminole three years ago when Stark left for a head coaching position at North Paulding High in Georgia.
Other Orlando area coaches who have left the state for better pay in recent years include West Orange’s Mike Granato (Georgia), Apopka’s Rick Darlington (Alabama), Oviedo’s Kolby Tackett (Tennessee) and East River’s Collin Drafts (South Carolina).
Darlington returned to Florida after the 2021 season to become head coach at DeLand. Drafts has served as Nease High head coach in Ponte Vedra since 2019.
“You build strong relationships with the community and the kids, and leaving those guys is something that really breaks my heart,” Lodge said. “The decision is really for the family and doing what’s best for my wife and two little girls. The opportunity was just too good to turn down.”
More vacancies
After guiding Ocoee to the state semifinals in his fifth season last fall, Aaron Sheppard has resigned as head coach of the Knights.
Sheppard made the announcement in a Twitter post Thursday morning. He did not respond to a request for comment from the Orlando Sentinel.
“These past 5 years have been nothing short of a movie here at Ocoee High School,” Sheppard’s post read in part. “This is a bittersweet moment and one of the toughest decisions that I have ever had to make. … I will always be grateful and thankful and a part of the Knight family.”
The Orlando area has seen 13 coaching changes this offseason among the 67 schools located in Orange,Seminole,Osceola,Lakeand southwest Volusia counties. There arefouropeningsinOrangeCounty.
Colonial was expected to hire a Seminole County assistant as its next head coach, but that process remains ongoing at the school district level.
Evans coach Kenard Lang stepped down from his position after two seasons early this month to become defensive line coach and run-game coordinator at North Carolina A&T.
Lake Nona lost Jason Robinson to a college job after only one season. Robinson announced Feb. 3 that he has taken over as offensive coordinator at Webber International.
Central Florida Christian, Deltona, Kissimmee Liberty and The Master’s Academy have head football coaching openings.
Leesburg, Oak Ridge, Umatilla and Orange City University also have made changes since the end of the 2022 season.