Veteran Wiles makes a return to Trenton
For the third time in his high school coaching career, Bill Wiles is back at Trenton.
Wiles, who coached the Tigers in 2016 and 1997-2001, was called upon a week ago when coach Ben Jacqmein stepped down for personal reasons.
“I was here,” Wiles said. “The plan was my son is going into his freshman year.
“We have been here, and I have lived in the same house for a long time. I’ve always lived in Gilchrist County. Last few years, went to Georgia. But we made the decision to come back and help Ben.”
After going 9-2 in 2016 with the Tigers, Wiles left for Georgia, where he served as offensive coordinator for Cook High in Adel, Georgia.
“We didn’t move to Georgia to stay in Georgia, we knew we were coming back,” said Wiles, who is entering his 35th year as a coach, 26th as a head coach. “It was better for my son and my wife.
“I want to do what I always do, put together a first-class program with players that represent the school and their family with pride. We have some good kids. I think we have a chance to have a decent football team if we come together.”
Wiles turned the Santa Fe High football program around in four years, leading the Raiders to the state semifinals in 2015. He was also previously a head coach at South Walton (2011), Branford (2007-2010), Lowndes County, Georgia (2002-2003), Graceville (1993-1996) and Bell (1991-1992).
He won a state title in his first year at Graceville, and he had been an assistant at Branford (2004-2006) and Dunnellon (1985-1990) under legendary coach Richard Kennedy.
“I have a very good team here in 2016 and am looking to build a program that our people will be proud of and kids will want to play. Our numbers are down from where they were, we have to get that right.”
Last season’s 2-8 record was the school’s worst since 2008.
With Wiles return to Trenton, there are seven new coaches entering the 2019 season with John Palmer (Chiefland), L.B. Cravey (Dixie County), Mark Beach (Lafayette), Ed Johnson (Newberry), RJ Fuhr (Oak Hall, although he was interim coach for nine games in 2018), and Ric Whittington (Williston).
Preseason games begin Aug. 15 with Trenton at Jacksonville Christ’s Church, with 16 area games coming a day later on Aug. 16.
Saturday was the first day football coaches were allowed to use full pads for contact.
The first regular-season game of the season will be Aug. 22 at Citizens Field when Gainesville hosts Ocala Vanguard. Eastside and Buchholz square off a day later on the same field.
FHSAA schedule updates
The Florida High School Athletic Association made a couple of announcements this past week as the start of school draws closer.
The FHSAA and RP Funding Center have agreed to a one-year extension in hosting the basketball state championship in Lakeland through 2020. It will mark the 25th consecutive year Lakeland has hosted the basketball state championships.
With the reduction in classifications and a new playoff format, the state basketball championships will be held Feb. 26-29, 2020, for girls and March 4-7 for boys.
“This is a testament to a great partnership the FHSAA has established with the RP Funding Center and the Lakeland community,” said George Tomyn, FHSAA executive director. “Together we will continue to provide a memorable experience for our student-athletes.”
The FHSAA, the governing body for all high school competition in Florida, also announced the schedule for the football state championships, which will be held in two locations for the first time — Tallahassee (1A-3A) and Daytona Beach (4A-8A).
The state finals in smaller classifications in Tallahassee (Gene Cox Stadium) will be held on December 5 (3A), December 6 (2A) and December 7 (1A).
The bigger classifications at Daytona Stadium, will be held Dec. 11 (4A), Dec. 12 (6A), Dec. 13 (8A) and Dec. 14 (5A at 12 p.m., and 7A at 7 p.m.).
Five teams in Florida are ranked in MaxPreps’ preseason Top 25, led by IMG Academy, independent of the FHSAA, at No. 6. Class 6A Miami Central is No. 9 and 7A Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas is No. 10. Lakeland (7A) is No. 16 and Miami Carol City (4A) is No. 19.
Larry Savage is the high school sports editor at The Gainesville Sun. He can be reached at (352) 374-5050 or by email at larry.savage@gvillesun.com. Follow him on Twitter @SunPreps