In a Monday, March 27, meeting held during Plant City High School's first period, head coach Robert Paxia broke the news to his players: there will be a new head coach for the 2017-18 season.
Paxia, who was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach in 2016, confirmed his departure to the Plant City Times & Observer shortly afterward. The coach said he plans to take a job outside of Florida, though he did not specify where.
"I was handed an opportunity, and I decided I'm going to take it," Paxia says.
It's the third time in as many offseasons that the Raiders will have to replace a head football coach that stepped down.
Paxia was brought aboard the staff when Greg Meyer was promoted to head coach, following Wayne Ward's departure, and his offense helped the 2015-16 squad record the best season in program history: an 11-2 overall record, highlighted by 11 straight wins, which ended with a regional championship appearance.
After Paxia was promoted in that offseason, he inherited a team that had graduated 25 seniors. many of them key players. He opted to continue using the philosophies he and Meyer installed the previous season, and also led the charge to complete a $20,000 upgrade to the weight room.
Paxia nearly guided the Raiders to another playoff berth. The team finished 2016 with a 6-3 record in a weather-shortened season, and remained in playoff contention until the Friday, Oct. 14, Redman Cup game.
"I thought we made the best out of a tough situation," Paxia says. "I thought we did pretty well."
According to Paxia, Plant City has a "plan in place" to find his successor before the 2017-18 season.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.