UPDATED: Ocoee High head football coach resigns

After five years with the Knights, Aaron Sheppard has made the difficult decision to step down from his position.

By Andrea Mujica
| 9:32 a.m. February 24, 2023
| Updated 9:25 p.m. February 24, 2023

Head football coach Aaron Sheppard alongside some of the players who were part of the history-making team during the 2022-23 football season.

Sports
High Schools

After five years as part of the Ocoee High School football family, the Knights’ head football coach Aaron Sheppard announced his resignation from the position on a touching Twitter post Thursday, Feb. 23.

“These past (five) years have been nothing short of a movie here at Ocoee High School,” he tweeted. “To the parents who trusted me with your sons, THANK YOU!!! To the young men who trusted me with their future, THANK YOU!!! To the administration who trusted me to change the culture of this amazing place, THANK YOU!!! GOD has truly blessed me in this season of my life and for that, God I want to say THANK YOU!!!”

Ocoee organized a huge send off ceremony to head football coach Aaron Sheppard, his coaching staff and the Ocoee Knights the day they were scheduled to play in the state championship semifinal game against Columbus.

Sheppard led the Knights through a history-making season during the 2022-23 football season, where the boys became part of the Final Four teams to battle for the state championship title for the first time in school history. However, the Knights fell short on their quest after falling to the current state champions — the Columbus Explorers — on a back-to-back game 41-36 Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

“This is a bitter sweet moment and one of the toughest decisions that I have ever had to make,” Sheppard tweeted. “I will always be grateful and thankful and a part of the Knight Family! To my players, I love you all and I’m always a phone call away! Moving forward, the program is in GREAT hands and I definitely tried to leave it better than I found it!”

On Friday, Feb. 24, Ocoee High School announced former Florida Gator, defensive lineman and Super Bowl Champion Sheddrick Gurley as the Knights new head football coach.