- November 23, 2024
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It’s the offseason, or in terms of high school sports, it’s the summer.
And before high school sports crank back up in a few weeks, Flagler Palm Coast Atheltics Director Steve DeAugustino still has a few coaching vacancies to fill.
DeAugustino announced Jordan Butler has officially taken over as head coach of the baseball team.
Butler is a former standout college and semiprofessional pitcher.
Former coach Steven Poppe has stepped down for family reasons. Poppe will remain involved with the team, according to DeAugustino.
This will be Butler’s first high school head coaching position. He has been a high school baseball coach for nine years with Spruce Creek and New Smyrna Beach high schools before coming to FPC two years ago.
Butler was a pitcher in college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University before he went on to play professional minor league baseball with a team in the Independent League.
But when he joined FPC, he took over infielders and hitting.
DeAugustino said Butler’s organization and knowledge of the game made him stand out as the head coaching choice.
Butler said he hopes to instill a different mentality in his players as he takes over the program.
“The biggest thing I want to do is change the culture of mediocrity,” he said. “A lot of kids in the program are content with the average, and I want them to start striving to be better than average — to be champions. (I want to) bring a lot of intensity to the program.”
Other coaching changes
Sarah Poppe has stepped down as head softball after four seasons. Last season, the Lady Bulldogs softball team finished 21-6 and in second place in the District 1-8A tournament.
Bobby Bossardet has also stepped down as wrestling coach for family reasons.
DeAugustino said he still has to fill vacancies for softball, wrestling and volleyball.
At Matanzas High School, Bill Hanrahan has stepped down as girls lacrosse coach, according to Athletics Director Ken Seybold.
Last season, Hanrahan led the Lady Pirates to a district championship and the best season in school history, finishing in the Elite 8 of the state.
Contact Andrew O’Brien at [email protected].
