Florida Department of Education takes aim at ‘antiquated’ rules of FHSAA

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Education has taken aim at the state’s governing body of high school sports about the scrutiny around Miami Northwestern football coach Teddy Bridgewater after he self-reported providing food, rides and medical treatment for his players last year.

Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas wrote an open letter to Florida High School Athletic Association executive director Craig Damon that strongly encouraged the organization to scrutinize its policies about recruiting and impermissible benefits, saying the FHSAA rules appear to be “antiquated.”

While not mentioning him by name, the letter comes in the wake of Bridgewater being suspended by his school over posts about providing tens of thousands of dollars in benefits to players on his team that included food, rides and medical therapy.

The letter written by Kamoutsas reads:

“It has been brought to my attention that a volunteer coach was recently suspended for providing impermissible benefits to students in violation of Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Administrative Policy. Let us use this instance to reflect on FHSAA policies on the whole and whether they are serving the needs of student athletes. I believe many of the FHSAA’s policies may be antiquated and out of step with the current landscape of school choice in Florida. Pursuant to my authority in section 1006.20(2), Florida Statutes, I direct the FHSAA to review its policies while ensuring safeguards remain to prohibit illegal recruiting. We must allow flexibility to maximize fairness, competition and opportunity for our student athletes.”

Bridgewater made a post on Facebook July 7 asking for donations from supporters for Northwestern. Bridgewater said he paid for Uber rides and food and training camp and medical recovery treatment last year from his own pocket to help support Bulls players. Northwestern romped to a state championship over Raines last year. While he served as the head coach, Bridgewater isn’t technically on staff and serves in a volunteer capacity.

If Bridgewater did earn a paycheck, his supplement as a head coach in Miami Dade County would be $5,462 per year ($3,554 in fall, $1,908 in spring).

That Facebook post shined a light on how much Bridgewater invested in his alma mater, but it also ran afoul of FHSAA bylaws. By personally covering the cost for things like that, Bridgewater appeared to have crossed FHSAA bylaws regarding recruiting and impermissible benefits.

Bridgewater posted and later deleted that he had been suspended by the school after he self-reported what he had given to players.

Bridgewater’s admission, on its surface, details the sacrifices he made for Northwestern. His suspension made national headlines, with many saying that he should be celebrated for his selflessness and not admonished or threatened with punishment.

Kamoutsas aims to make the FHSAA answer questions about its bylaws structure, the bulk which were authored long before the age of name, image and likeness and school choice.

If there’s one thing that has gotten the attention of state lawmakers over the years, it’s been the FHSAA. State Rep. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland was drawn into the fight in 2012 after Seffner Armwood had its state championship stripped after an ineligible player ruling. Stargel led the push to shrink the powers of the FHSAA, and those have dwindled ever since.

Kamoutsas’ open challenge to the FHSAA is the first major scenario to play out in the public eye since the state took a hatchet to the association’s power structure in 2023. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that altered the FHSAA board, with the Governor appointing eight of the 13 members. The commissioner of education is also a member.

The FHSAA has been in the crosshairs of state legislators for more than a decade. In 2012, then Gov. Rick Scott signed HB1403, a bill that loosened the association’s grip on transfer and eligibility issues, among other things.