After four consecutive playoff appearances, and a state final trip, Jamie Rodgers is exiting Bradford Tornadoes football.
A coaching change is coming at one of Northeast Florida's most consistent high school football programs.
Bradford and head coach Jamie Rodgers have parted ways, the school announced Jan. 6, following a four-year tenure that included four playoff appearances and a state final visit.
The school released the news in a post to Facebook, saying that it will "conduct a thorough search to identify the best possible leader to guide our program into its next chapter." FloridaHSFootball.com first reported the move.
During his four years in Starke, Rodgers had built one of Florida's most formidable defensive units, allowing fewer than 100 regular-season points in each of his seasons. Bradford limited its opponents to 79 points in 2022, 90 in 2023, 103 in 2024 and 94 in 2025, including a season of nine shutouts in 2022.
Rodgers compiled a 46-7 record with Bradford, and holds a 120-50 mark in Times-Union records through a 14-year head coaching career. Prior to his tenure with the Tornadoes, he coached at Suwannee from 2012-15, at Baker County from 2016-18 and at Cook in Georgia from 2019-21.
His teams have qualified for postseason in 13 consecutive years, including Baker County's run to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A final in 2017 and Bradford's trip to the Class 2S title game in 2023.
Bradford finished 11-2 in the 2025 season, losing 17-10 to Cocoa in the Region 2-2A final. The Tornadoes' only other defeat came against Region 1-6A finalist Mandarin, 14-7.
The next Tornadoes coach will inherit a spot in FHSAA District 4-2A for 2026, alongside Keystone Heights, Newberry and Ocala Trinity Catholic. Bradford is currently on course to return players including sophomore quarterback Cy Cubbedge, who passed for 1,832 yards and 24 touchdowns; junior Iyen Addison, a 1,073-yard rusher; two-way athlete Jordan Cason, a prospect at both receiver and defensive back; and sophomore Caiden Carn, who intercepted three passes at corner.
Bradford won consecutive FHSAA championships in 1965 and 1966 and also placed second in 1985, with those teams all under the leadership of Tornadoes legend David Hurse. Since Hurse's retirement after the 1990 season, Bradford had experienced only two other 10-win seasons (2003 and 2017) prior to Rodgers' arrival.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Coach Jamie Rodgers, Bradford High School football part ways
Category: General Sports
