After hosting a host of big-name in-state, as well as out-of-state coaches like Dabo Swinney and a handful of others for a clinic to bring attention to their cause, The Florida Coaches Coaltion got some good news yesterday.
Senate Bill 538 passed by an overwhelming vote of 104-6 on Monday. The bill previously cleared previous checkpoints via a unanimous vote.
The next step could happen as early as later this week, as an approval is required by the Senate, before it would go in front of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for formal approval.
Among the bill's key provisions, is more funding flexibility to get the state's coaching stipends more competitive. For years the top coaches in Florida have been poached by opportunities in neighboring states like Georgia where their coaching pay is much, much healthier, with some coaches making 10x the stipend compared to what Florida offers.
For those curious how Florida HS coaches pay stacks up, one high school head coach shared on the Florida Coaches Coalition website that his coaching stipend for leading a program was just $3,000.
Many folks wondered how cash-strapped districts already operating lean would be able to afford to pay coaches any more, and that's where a recent addition to the bill found it's way in. Approval of the bill would allow for some much-needed financial flexibility that would permit booster clubs to contribute to coaching compensation, while prohibiting funds being used for severance pay of any kind.
While the battle for better compensation is what is dominating conversations, one could argue another issue within the bill is equally as important as it aims at put some guardrails on some of Florida's wild transfer culture that has become an annual punchline among coaches nationally.
States like Michigan (and others) require transfer students to meet at least 1 of 14 exceptions (including a full and complete move by the entire family) before being declared eligible to participate at a new school if they transfer while in high school, while Florida has made a name for itself as the Wild Wild West when it comes to transfers with players free to transfer and play the very next week at the new school, provided the transfer took place in the regular season.
An addition to the bill could mark a significant departure from that, as it reads:
(a) A student who transfers to a school during the school year may request to immediately join an existing team if the roster for the specific interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity has not reached the activity’s identified maximum size and if the coach for the activity determines that the student has the requisite skill and ability to participate.
(b) A student may not participate in sports if the student participated in sports at another school during that school year, unless granted approval by the executive director of the governing association or the student meets one of the following criteria:
Dependent children of active duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.
Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone.
Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.