Viera High hires former Florida Tech assistant to lead football program
Former Florida Tech coach Chad Raymond said it was "an alignment of the stars" that brought him to his new job as Viera High head football coach.
Raymond coached from 2013-19 for the Panthers. He was an offensive line coach and run-game coordinator for the last three seasons before the program was dropped. He and his family live in the Viera area.
"Honestly, things do happen for a reason," he said. "I've been wanting to get back into it. I'm 43, and I've got more football in me."
Prior to his time at FIT, he coached at UTEP, Tarleton State, Midwestern State and New Mexico Highlands.
He coached the offensive line at Melbourne High for a year after leaving FIT but spent this past season focusing on the demands of his job there as a testing coordinator.
As "an offensive line guy," he said his first instinct has always been to run the football and dominate on both sides of the line, but he said he will coach in whatever ways fits the personnel and strengths of Viera.
"I'll watch a ton of film over the next few weeks," Raymond said. "It's about adapting, working with what you've got."
The Austin, Texas, native attended Austin McCallum High and then Tarleton State, earning his business administration degree there in 2006.
"I'm very detail-oriented, not just on the field but off the field," Raymond said. "Focus on the details. Those are the things that matter the most."
Derek Smith resigned from the Hawks head coaching job in December.
Coaches at MCC, Satellite and Merritt Island have also left open positions in Brevard County since the end of the regular season. Satellite promoted offensive coordinator Knox Robinson to the top spot.
More coaching news
Merritt Island: Hurlie Brown leaving to return to college
Satellite: Robinson follows Kimmey in Scorps football coaching transition
MCC: Walt Ramsay steps down from football program
Contact McCallum at bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @321preps on Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to FLORIDA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Former Florida Tech assistant Chad Raymond to lead Viera football
