Northeast Florida Counties Don't Pay High School Coaches for Summer Work

Duval, St. Johns counties among those that only pay coaches on 10-month teaching contracts

Feb. 27, 2026 at 9:09pm

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Several Northeast Florida school districts, including Duval, St. Johns, Columbia, and Nassau counties, only pay their high school football coaches on standard 10-month teaching contracts, despite the fact that coaching responsibilities have expanded significantly over the past 20 years. This means coaches are expected to work for free during the summer months when weight rooms are open and recruiting trips take place.

Why it matters

The lack of summer pay for high school football coaches in these districts has led to high coaching turnover, with only four of Duval County's 17 head coaches staying with their programs for five years or longer. This issue highlights the growing disparity between coaching pay in Florida compared to neighboring states like Georgia, where coaches often receive additional months of pay and larger coaching supplements.

The details

While some Florida districts like Baker, Clay, and Flagler have moved to 11-month or 12-month contracts for head football coaches to better reflect the year-round nature of the job, Columbia, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties have not made such changes. This means coaches in those districts are expected to work for free during the summer months, when weight rooms are open daily and recruiting trips are common. Some districts like St. Johns do allow coaches to earn money by running summer camps, but they must pay to rent the school facilities.

  • In the past 10 years, Columbia, Nassau and St. Johns counties have raised their coaching supplemental pay.
  • Duval County has not increased its coaching supplemental pay in more than 25 years.

The players

Columbia, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties

School districts in Northeast Florida that pay their high school football coaches on standard 10-month teaching contracts, despite the year-round nature of the job.

Baker, Clay, and Flagler counties

School districts in Northeast Florida that have moved to 11-month or 12-month contracts for head football coaches to better reflect the year-round responsibilities.

Senate Bill 538 and House Bill 731

Bills currently making their way through the Florida legislature that would allow extracurricular supervisors like coaches to ask for more money and permit third-party pay from booster clubs.

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What’s next

The Florida legislature is currently considering bills that could help address the issue of low pay for high school coaches, including allowing them to seek additional funding from booster clubs. If passed, these bills could provide a path for districts to better compensate coaches for their year-round responsibilities.

The takeaway

The lack of summer pay for high school football coaches in several Northeast Florida counties highlights the growing disparity between coaching compensation in the state compared to neighboring regions. This issue has contributed to high coaching turnover and raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the profession, especially as districts face budget pressures from declining enrollment.