Former Florida Gators football player resigns from high school head coaching job

Former Florida and Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy has resigned as the head football at Cape Coral (Fla.), according to a message sent to parents and players on Thursday morning.

Tom Kenna, the school’s athletic director, stated in the announcement that Murphy resigned his position as a physical education teacher and coach at Cape Coral for personal reasons, but no other explanation was provided for his departure.

Murphy joined the Cape Coral staff in January 2024, but was promoted ahead of last season after head coach Isaac Harvin resigned amid a scandal involving inappropriate messages with female students. In his lone full season leading the program, Murphy led the Seahawks to an 8-2 record.

They won 8 of their first 9 games in 2024 before falling in the regional quarterfinals of the FHSAA 5A playoffs. This season, Cape Coral was off to a 3-0 start with wins over North Fort Myers, Lemon Bay and Bonita Springs and were 11-2 during his tenure.

In the five seasons prior to Murphy taking over, the Seahawks finished 12-35. A petition to Lee County school board members to allow Murphy to return as Cape Coral’s football coach was posted on Thursday and had received more than 200 signatures at time of publication.

“Coach Murphy is more than a coach. He is a mentor, a protector, and a role model who has changed the lives of our student-athletes on and off the field. He has created a program built on discipline, respect, opportunity, and hope. Our kids willingly wake up before dawn to be part of the culture he has built. A culture of hard work, teamwork, and belief in themselves.

To take him away is to take away far more than a football coach. It is to take away the dreams, confidence, and opportunities of the very students you are entrusted to serve.”

Another Florida alum will take over as interim head coach

For the rest of the 2025 season, he will be replaced by assistant coach Jaylen Watkins, a Cape Coral alum and former NFL defensive back.

Watkins was teammates at Florida with Murphy from 2010-13.

Murphy eventually transferred to Boston College for his final season of eligibility, while Watkins was taken in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played in the league from 2014-2020 before retiring. He was a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 and recorded 93 career tackles across his six seasons in with the Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers.