Countryside football coach Jared Davis resigned Monday, leaving behind a program that he led to two straight undefeated regular seasons in 2010 and ’11.
Davis decided to step down last week but waited until Monday to make it official, athletic director Greg Zornes said.
“It was definitely a surprise to all of us here,” Zornes said. “This was a move he made on his own. He is a young guy and football is all he has ever known.”
Countryside moved quickly to find a replacement, promoting offensive coordinator Eric Schmitz.
Davis, 30, graduated from Countryside in 2002. He returned to his alma mater in 2010, replacing John Davis, who left to be the head coach at Clearwater Central Catholic.
“This is the one job I’ve always wanted,” Jared Davis said at the time. “It’s home.”
In his first two seasons, Davis went undefeated in the regular season. The Cougars advanced to the region finals in 2010 and the region quarterfinals in 2011.
The 2012 season was a tumultuous one for Davis and the Countryside program. The Florida High School Athletic Association ruled the Cougars had to forfeit six games because they had used an ineligible player, and they missed the playoffs as a result.
Countryside finished 6-4 in 2013. Davis’ overall record was 32-12.