By Andrew Powell, Florida Politics
(Source: Miami Times)
A newly filed bill would allow high school coaches to use their own personal funds to support basic needs of student athletes on their teams.
Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones filed a measure (SB 178) that would allow coaches to provide financial help to public K-12 student athletes. The bill also introduces safeguards to prevent misuse or recruitment-related incentives.
Under the legislation, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) would be required to adopt bylaws permitting coaches to use personal funds in good faith to provide food, transportation and recovery services.
Coaches would be required to report any use of personal funds to the FHSAA. The bill says any personal funds would be presumed to not be an impermissible benefit unless it’s not reported, deemed that it was not given in good faith, or used for recruiting purposes.
The legislation follows the suspension of former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who began coaching his former high school football team in Miami in 2024 but was sidelined after his inaugural season.
Bridgewater was accused by Miami Northwestern High School of not reporting financial benefits, including Uber rides and meals to his players, something Bridgewater denied.
In August, Bridgewater signed on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and told reporters he was only being protective of his team.
“I’m protective, and I’m a father first before anything. And when I decided to coach, those players became my sons,” Bridgewater said. “And I wanted to make sure that I just protected them in the best way that I can. I think that’s what came about. Miami Northwestern’s in a tough neighborhood, and sometimes things can happen when the kids are walking home and different things like that.”
The bill would further amend existing statutes to clarify civil immunity for volunteer team physicians conducting evaluations, adjust exemptions for students in districts unable to provide low-cost electrocardiograms, and update screening exemptions for FHSAA investigators.
If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
