Florida High School Coaches Advocate for Pay Increase

NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter and Former Coach Jimbo Fisher Join the Fight

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter and former Florida State/Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher have joined a group of Florida high school coaches in advocating for pay increases in the state. The coaches are pushing for the passage of SB 538 and HB731, which would allow public school districts to significantly increase compensation for high school coaches across the board.

Why it matters

High school coaches in Florida are among the lowest paid in the country, with stipends ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 in most areas. The proposed legislation aims to address this issue and provide fair compensation for the time and effort these coaches put into developing student-athletes.

The details

SB 538 would remove the Florida High School Athletic Association's (FHSAA) role for private school participation and ban schools from charging extra fees for extracurriculars. HB 731 would give school districts the flexibility to use booster club donations for coaching compensation, while prohibiting the use of those funds for severance pay. The proposed stipends would set coaching pay at a minimum wage of $15 per hour, based on a minimum number of hours worked per sport.

  • On Wednesday, Cris Carter and Jimbo Fisher joined Florida high school coaches in visiting Tallahassee.
  • On Thursday, SB 538 passed the Senate with a unanimous 38-0 vote by lawmakers.
  • The next step is for the two bills to be presented and approved by the House & Senate, which is expected to happen sometime in March.

The players

Cris Carter

NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver who joined the group of Florida high school coaches advocating for pay increases.

Jimbo Fisher

Former Florida State/Texas A&M head football coach who joined the group of Florida high school coaches advocating for pay increases.

Bill Conley

The high school coach who coached Cris Carter during his high school days at Middletown (OH).

Andrew Ramjit

The FCC representative who has worked on the proposed coaches' stipends amounts.

Ron DeSantis

The Governor of Florida who would need to sign off on the legislation for it to become law.

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What they’re saying

“'Bill Conley, wherever you are, you are responsible for Cris Carter making it through the Pro Football Hall of Fame.'”

— Cris Carter (USA Today)

“'Our coaches are under compensated.'”

— Jimbo Fisher (USA Today)

What’s next

The two bills (SB 538 and HB731) are expected to be presented and approved by the House & Senate sometime in March. After that, the final step would be for Governor Ron DeSantis to sign off on the legislation for it to become law.

The takeaway

This effort to increase pay for Florida high school coaches highlights the broader issue of fair compensation for those who dedicate their time and expertise to developing student-athletes. The proposed legislation could set a precedent for other states to follow in ensuring high school coaches are adequately rewarded for their valuable contributions.