Florida Coaches Coalition Pushes for Better Pay in New Bill

Proposed legislation aims to boost coaching salaries and address transfer issues in the state

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Florida Coaches Coalition has been actively advocating for a new bill in the state legislature that would increase coaching pay and provide more oversight on student-athlete transfers. The coalition, which includes prominent figures like Cris Carter and Jimbo Fisher, has been meeting with lawmakers in Tallahassee to garner support for the proposed legislation, known as House Bill 731. The bill, co-authored by two Republican state representatives, would classify coaches as "extracurricular administrators" and allow them to negotiate higher salaries outside of their standard supplements.

Why it matters

Coaching pay in Florida is among the lowest in the country, which the coalition argues has the potential to deteriorate school athletic programs if not addressed. The bill also aims to provide the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) with better tools to combat the growing issue of student-athlete transfers, which has been exacerbated by the state's school choice policies.

The details

House Bill 731 would give coaches the ability to approach superintendents and request higher pay through their extracurricular administrator classification, rather than being limited to their standard coaching supplement. The bill has received bipartisan support and has sailed through committee votes with little resistance, which the coalition's executive director attributes to Democrats being more open to the issue this legislative session. The proposed legislation would also affect other extracurricular activity leaders, such as band, theater, and debate club coaches.

  • The Florida Coaches Coalition has been advocating for better coaching pay since 2021.
  • House Bill 731 was co-authored by Rep. Adam Anderson (R-Palm Harbor) and Rep. Shane Abbott (R-DeFuniak Springs).
  • Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously stated he would sign legislation to boost coaching pay if it reached his desk.

The players

Cris Carter

Pro Football Hall of Famer who has joined the Florida Coaches Coalition in advocating for the proposed legislation.

Jimbo Fisher

Former head coach of Florida State University and Texas A&M University, who has also lent his voice to the coalition's efforts.

Rep. Adam Anderson

Republican state representative who co-authored House Bill 731.

Rep. Shane Abbott

Republican state representative who co-authored House Bill 731.

Andrew Ramjit

Executive director of the Florida Coaches Coalition.

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What they’re saying

“Listen, coaches are educators. They're teachers. They need to be compensated for what they're doing and what we have, and our kids are our greatest resource.”

— Jimbo Fisher, Former Head Coach, Florida State University and Texas A&M University

“This bill, it may not give coaches everything they want right away, but guess what it does? It cracks open the door, a door that has never been cracked open before.”

— Andrew Ramjit, Executive Director, Florida Coaches Coalition

What’s next

The proposed legislation, House Bill 731, still needs to be passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis before it can take effect.

The takeaway

The Florida Coaches Coalition's push for better pay and oversight on student-athlete transfers represents a significant effort to address longstanding issues in the state's high school sports landscape. If successful, the proposed legislation could serve as a model for other states looking to support and retain quality coaching talent.