TFA football coach Jeff Conaway suspended by FHSAA for 2025 season

The First Academy football coach Jeff Conaway has been suspended for the 2025 season by the Florida High School Athletics Association for his role in the program's alleged violation of FHSAA regulations last season that resulted in monetary fines, the vacating its nine 2024 wins — which resulted in the program missing out on the 2024 postseason — and a postseason ban for the 2025 season. 

In this most recent notification of sanctions, the FHSAA did not present any new violations against the program or Conaway and has officially closed the case.

The suspension means Conaway will not be able to participate or be present on gameday, but it does not prevent him from continuing to lead the program in their preparation — in practice, film work or strength training for example — prior and during the season.

When asked for comment, TFA Assistant Head of School and Interim Athletic Director Will Cohen said the school is looking forward to preparations for spring football and its future with Conaway at the helm and new Athletic Director Andy Chiles. 

“We are pleased that the FHSAA compliance audit is complete," Cohen said. "The football coaches and players are eager to begin spring practice next month, culminating in our spring game at Lake Mary High School Thursday, May 15. TFA’s 2025 football schedule will be one of the most competitive in the state of Florida. We are moving forward with tremendous optimism about the future of TFA athletics with Jeff Conaway as our head football coach and Andy Chiles as our athletic director.”

In the original letter sent Nov. 1, FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon notified TFA that it would receive various sanctions for allowing 10 student-athletes to participate in football activities without being enrolled or prior to being enrolled at the school (FHSAA 2024-25 Handbook policy 37.2.1) and for communication with student-athletes from different schools about TFA prior to their enrollment, AKA recruiting, by assistant coach Steven Moffett and an unspecified representative of the school’s athletic interests (policy 37.1.1).

TFA appealed the sanctions and argued various points regarding the alleged violations from the findings of the FHSAA's investigation.

During the appeal process, the school asserted that all 10 student-athletes who participated in football activities prior to being officially enrolled had begun their individual enrollment process at the school and were not enrolled at any other school at the time of participation. 

Regarding its violation of policy 37.1.1, Moffett denied the allegations of recruiting players while under oath.