Pensacola High School fires head coach Cedric Smith after one football season

Patrick Bernadeau, Pensacola News Journal
·2 min read

Once again, Pensacola High School is in search of someone to head its football program.

Cedric Smith is out as Tigers head coach after just one season at the helm. He was informed of the decision on Tuesday.

“It is what it is,” Smith said on Wednesday.

Now, PHS begins its search for the football program’s fifth head coach since the 2014 season.

Smith followed current Escambia assistant coach Todd Leonard, interim head coach Raymond Corner, Mike Mincy and current Escambia head coach Mike Bennett.

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Pensacola has struggled mightily within that stretch, compiling a 21-57 record. The Tigers’ last winning season came in 2012.

A top candidate for several local head coaching jobs in recent years, Smith was hired in December 2020 after previously serving as an offensive coordinator with Fort Walton Beach.

Among the Pensacola News Journal’s traditional 13-team coverage area in Escambia and Santa Rosa County, Smith was the lone African-American head coach in 2021.

The Pensacola High football team storms the gridiron for the Tigers home opener against Washington High on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.
The Pensacola High football team storms the gridiron for the Tigers home opener against Washington High on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.

The Tigers finished 1-9 this past season. It's the third-straight year the program has produced a one-win campaign. The team’s lone bright spot came in a 35-21 win at Arnold on Oct. 1.

Held under 10 points in seven of 10 games in 2021, Pensacola was outscored by a combined margin of 316-84.

Upon his exit, Smith was appreciative of his players for their efforts throughout the year. However, he was critical of the school’s administration, citing broken promises and an overall lack of support.

“There’s some things that went on behind the scenes over there that just don’t sit too well with me,” Smith said. “I was told that I was going to get all of my kids put in weightlifting (classes). That never happened. There’s some things that the administration reneged on that set the football program back.”

Pensacola High principal Saraya Miller cou not be reached for comment.

Patrick Bernadeau can be reached at pbernadeau@gannett.com, @PatBernadeau on Twitter or (850) 503-3828.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola High fires football coach Cedric Smith after one season