New beginnings: Here’s where the 8 Big Bend football head coach exits ended up

Mike Coe, Cedric Jones, Corey Fuller and Garrett Jahn were four of the eight Big Bend head football coaches that left their programs in the offseason.

It’s been a crazy calendar year when it comes to coaching changes in the Big Bend. Six head coaches departed their programs, and two made exiting announcements during the regular season. We saw one of the winningest coaches in state history leave for Georgia and another head down the street to Florida State.

The dust has finally settled as programs have hired new head coaches and the old ones have found new homes. Here is where the eight Big Bend head coaching exits ended up.

Mike Coe

Madison County head coach Mike Coe gets interviewed after the Cowboys beat Blountstown 70-35 in the Class 1A state championship game Dec. 7, 2019 at Tallahassee’s Gene Cox Stadium.

Former team: Madison County (12 seasons)

Current position: Head coach at Coffee County (Ga.)

Coe’s resignation from Madison County was one that shook the Big Bend. The long-time Cowboys head coach was fresh off his fourth state championship in five seasons and has stood as one of the most successful coaches in Big Bend football history.

Following his resignation in late February, Coe accepted the head coaching position at Coffee County in Douglas, Ga. Since making a move, he’s brought a handful of Florida coaches with him, including two former Panhandle head coaches in Alex Lehky (Munroe) and Beau Johnson (Blountstown).

In late March, Madison County announced that Dunnellon’s Price Harris had been hired as the next head football coach.

More: Madison County football coach Mike Coe resigns, accepts new job in Georgia

More: Dunnellon’s Price Harris named next Madison County head football coach

Alex Lehky

Munroe football head coach Alex Lehky talks with his players after a recent victory at Corry Field in Quincy. The Bobcats made history with an 8-1 record in 2020.

Former team: Munroe (three seasons)

Current position: Assistant coach at Coffee County (Ga.)

In early January, Munroe School announced that Lehky was promoted to a higher role in the football program as director and Russell Ellington took over the head coaching position. While Ellington is still in the head coaching position, Lehky has recently made the move to Douglas.

In late May, Coffee County’s football program began tagging Lehky in tweets and Lehky eventually changed his bio to “Teacher/Coach @ Coffee County Schools”. Lehky propelled the Munroe program to a small school championship contender, leading the Bobcats to their first playoff win.

Story continues

More: Russell Ellington named Munroe football head coach, Lehky named director of football

More: Head coaching change, PAC 12 commitment, Power 5 offers elevating Munroe football to new heights

Corey Fuller

Gadsden County football coach Corey Fuller yells instructions to his team during the Big Bend Spring Football Classic at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Former team: Gadsden County (three seasons in second stint)

Current position: Director of football relations at Florida State

Fuller has been a staple of Big Bend football since his high school days. He’s played at Rickards and Florida State and coached at Rickards, East Gadsden, West Gadsden, Godby, Gadsden County, and FAMU. In late January, Fuller announced in a speech to his team, which was later posted to Facebook, that he was leaving Gadsden County for a job opportunity with Florida State football.

He is now at his alma mater as the director of football relations. In his final season at Gadsden County, the Jaguars went 3-7, making it all the way to regional semifinals. In late March, Victor Winters announced that he had been hired as the next head football coach at Gadsden County.

More: Corey Fuller resigns as Gadsden County head football coach, accepts job at Florida State

More: ‘Best teacher is experience’: How Corey Fuller aims to guide and inspire FSU football players

More: Winters express importance of community in introduction as next Gadsden County head football coach

Cedric Jones

FAMU DRS head coach Cedric Jones watches his team as NFC beat FAMU DRS 14-12 at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.

Former team: FAMU DRS (six seasons)

Current position: Head coach at Palm Beach Lakes

The Baby Rattlers had a unique situation last fall, reliving Jones of coaching duties mid-season following an 0-5 start. Athletic director Willie Williams stepped in as interim head coach for the rest of the season. Jones remained on staff as an IT coordinator but has since left FAMU DRS. In February, FAMU DRS introduced Alex Williams, Willie’s son, as the next head football coach.

In late January, Jones announced that he was heading the football program at Palm Beach Lakes High School, the longest haul by any of the eight exiting Big Bend coaches. The Rams were in a similar position to DRS last season, going 2-8 before Al Shipman, the longest-tenured head coach in the county, was relieved of his duties.

More: FAMU DRS relieves Jones of football head coaching duties, Williams steps in as interim head coach

More: Palm Beach Lakes football finds new hire in ex-FAMU DRS, John Paul II coach Cedric Jones

Garrett Jahn

Leon head coach Garrett Jahn watches as Leon beat Tate 31-16 at Gene Cox Stadium on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.

Former team: Leon (five seasons)

Current position: Quarterback/associate head coach at Lincoln

Jahn was one of two head coaches that stayed in the Big Bend coaching scene following his exit. At the end of Leon’s season, finishing 1-8, Jahn announced his resignation from the program. Prior to his time at Leon, Jahn had spent three seasons at Chiles.

Two months later, Lincoln announced that Jahn had joined the program as the quarterback coach/associate head coach. Last season the Trojans went 9-3, falling to Mosley in regional semifinals by a field goal. At Leon, Tyrone McGriff was named the new head coach in December.

More: ‘Coaching is in my blood.’ Tyrone McGriff named football coach at Leon High

Brandon McCray

Godby head coach Brandon McCray walks his sideline as Wakulla beat Godby 28-0 in a Region 1-5A final on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019.

Former team: Godby (three seasons)

Current position: Offensive line coach/on-campus recruiter at Lincoln

McCray took a similar path to Jahn when it came to finding his next coaching opportunity. McCray mutually parted from Godby in November following a 3-8 record and an 0-8 start to the season. In late January, McCray was brought onto Lincoln’s program as an offensive line coach and the on-campus recruiter.

Lincoln did face Godby last season, seeing the Trojans come away with a narrow 40-37 win over the Cougars. Since joining the coaching staff, McCray has been actively involved in advertising Lincoln’s program on social media. McCray is a Lincoln grad.

In December, Demario Jones was named the next head coach of the Godby football program.

More: Godby’s Brandon McCray, Leon’s Garrett Jahn announce departures from football programs

More: ‘Our goal is to win in life’: Jones focused on building character through football at Godby

Ira Reynolds

Jefferson County High School head coach Ira Reynolds talks to his team during a game between plays.

Former team: Jefferson County (two seasons)

Current position: Assistant coach at Sebastian River High School

After announcing his resignation from Jefferson County as head coach and athletic director in early November, and retirement from coaching football, he is back in the game. This week, Reynolds announced on Facebook that he’d be joining the coaching staff at Sebastian River High school as an assistant coach.

Sebastian River is located north of Vero Beach on the Treasure Coast. It’s a strong hire for the Sharks as Reynolds has coached for over a decade, notably leading FAMU DRS to a state championship in 2006. The Sharks went 3-5 last season.

In March, Jefferson County announced that Lenorris Footman had been hired as the next head football coach.

More: Jefferson County head coach Ira Reynolds announces departure from program

More: Jefferson County announces Lenorris Footman as next head football coach

Lance Ramer

The Maclay High School Head Football Coach Lance Ramer directs his team during practice Tuesday, August 17, 2021.

Former team: Maclay (six seasons)

Current position: Heading Total Game Sports

Maclay announced in January that Ramer had been relieved of head football coaching duties, and was going to work at Maclay as an assistant athletic director at the school through May 2022. In February, Maclay announced that Jason Cauley was the next head coach.

Ramer has recently started a youth sports program, Total Game Sports, in Tallahassee. The program recently ran a flag football league for boys and girls from ages seven to 14. Ramer is also facilitating youth summer sports camps through the program, run by Maclay coaches and athletes, and held at Maclay. Ramer is also a motivational speaker.

More: Jason Cauley named next Maclay head football coach

Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.  

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here’s where the 8 Big Bend football head coach exits ended up