Ranking the Top 5 available high school HFC jobs in 2026 cycle
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
We’re less than a month away from Valentine’s Day and high school football head coaching vacancies still are popping up around the country, but many are getting filled as the days come and go.
Corner Canyon (UT), North Crowley (TX), Grayson (Ga.) are among the nationally ranked programs that were able to fill in their vacancies, but plenty more have popped up along the way in this current 2026 coaching cycle.
The red hot question remains, which high school football head coaching job is the most attractive right now as we approach February? There’s still a number of them all over the nation and I’m sure there might be one we miss, but we take a look at the top five available high school football head coaching openings from coast to coast.
1. Rome (Georgia)
Now we know what has all just recently transpired at Rome when it came to making a decision on Rabun County defensive coordinator Bill Stewart as his expected appointment as Rome’s next head football coach was not approved by the Floyd County Board of Education. The search continues for the Wolves on who exactly their next head football coach will be, but it doesn’t make this opening unattractive. Well, not totally anyways as the potential pay would rank up against some of the best in the state of Georgia and heck, maybe even the country.
What has always stood out about the Rome job to many around the country was the pay for the head coaching position as of the 2024 high school football season, as Reid’s salary was set at $188,457. The next coach won’t get that same exact amount, but anywhere close to that would make even the most tenured head coaches of a current program give it a second look. Forget about just the pay, Rome is right on the cusp of competing for a state title, just of last season. The Wolves ended the 2025 Georgia high school football season with a record of 11-3, reaching the Class 5A state semis before falling to state finalist Gainesville, 37-6.
2. Southlake Carroll (Texas)
When Riley Dodgeannounced he would be leaving his alma mater Southlake Carroll to accept a assistant coaching position at SMU, it was a stunner around the high school football coaching ranks. Not just in the state of Texas, but nationally as Dodge leaves behind one of the best high school football jobs and whomever fills his shoes will inherit a talented roster and top of the line facilities.
Dodge just got finished up leading Southlake Carroll to a 14-1 record in 2025 and reaching the UIL Class 6A, Division II state semifinals. The expectations to win and immediately will always be there for a program like the Dragons, but doing so without players like quarterback Angelo Renda (Pittsburgh signee) and wide receiver Brock Boyd (Ohio State signee) won’t be easy. Getting players back, however, like Oklahoma commit Luke Wilson and Michigan pledge Tristan Dare on the offensive line certainly eases any coach’s mind on the ability to move the ball effectively on offense.
3. Archbishop Spalding (Maryland)
This head coaching position is fresh off the presses as Kyle Schmitt is leaving the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers to become the tight ends coach for University of Maryland, his alma mater he once played for. With Schmitt’s exit opens up easily the top head football coaching position in the DMV as the Cavaliers have become a hotbed when it comes to talent and winning on an annual basis. Living up to what Schmitt did during his 13 years at the helm will be tough to top as he was coming off a season where he led Archbishop Spalding to a 10-2 record and a state championship.
Schmitt’s overall record as head football coach at Archbishop Spalding is 101-36-1, serving as the lead man from 2013-2025. Expect whomever takes the job to have experience already and be prepared to continue the winning ways Archbishop Spalding has come accustomed to as the Cavaliers won the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Class A state championship in 2025 and finished as the state’s No. 3 ranked team, per the final Maryland 2025 High School Football Massey Rankings.
4. Waxahachie (Texas)
High school head coaching jobs of many of the top programs in Texas just keep popping up and the Waxahachie Indians was one that surprised those on the outside looking in. Regardless, with previous head coach Shane Tolleson moving on to take the coveted Denton Ryan job, another hot job now on the market in the Lone Star State is over at Waxahachie.
Competition wise, the Indians are about as good as any program as they upended Duncanville last season and finished as the No. 10 team in Texas, according to the Rivals Composite Rankings. Returning talent is also a major factor for any incoming head coach as the Indians return a bevy of 2027 talent, with four-star safety JayQuan Snell (Texas A&M commitment) leading the way. We have this job coming in at fourth just because Waxahachie will always have to climb the ladder when it comes to being on par with programs like the aforementioned Southlake Carroll.
5. Cocoa (Florida)
The surprising resignation of Ryan Schneider as the head football coach at Cocoa High School (Fla.) stunned many around the state of Florida, but one that could open the door to the next coaching great at the school. Whenever leaving behind a program that’s won multiple state championships like Cocoa has, seven in the Tigers’ case, whomever takes over the gig should have talent to work with.
The cupboard isn’t bare as the Tigers under Schneider won three straight state titles from 2022-24. Among the key pieces slated to be back, transfers barring, would be 2027 three-star quarterback Champ Smith and Syracuse commitment Tank White. Cocoa finished this past 2025 season with a 8-5 record and reached the Class 2A state semifinals, falling to eventual champion Cardinal Mooney, 40-0.
How to Follow National High School Football
For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos