Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the "Teddy Bridgewater Act" into law, marking a significant change for high school athletics in the state. The legislation permits head coaches to use their own money to cover certain expenses for their players, including meals, transportation, physical therapy, and rehabilitation services.
Background of the Act
The law is named after Teddy Bridgewater, a Florida native and former NFL quarterback who coached Miami Northwestern High School to a state championship in 2024. However, Bridgewater faced a suspension for the 2025 season after revealing that he had personally paid for meals, ride-share services, and treatments for some players. At a news conference, DeSantis explained that Bridgewater's actions were meant to help underprivileged players, but existing rules led to his suspension.
Key Provisions
The Teddy Bridgewater Act includes strict guidelines to prevent abuse. Only the head coach of a team may use personal funds, and the money cannot be used for recruiting purposes. All expenditures must be reported to a state agency, and there is a cap of $15,000 per team per year. DeSantis acknowledged potential downsides but emphasized that the previous rules hindered coaches who wanted to make a positive impact.
Coaching Salary Bill
In addition, DeSantis signed a separate bill aimed at increasing high school coaching salaries. Effective July 1, this law allows school boards to use voluntary donations and revenues from booster clubs to compensate coaches, up to the salary of the highest-paid administrator in the district. This addresses disparities where Florida coaches often earn far less than their counterparts in neighboring states.
Andrew Ramjit, executive director of the Florida Coaches Coalition, praised the legislation as validation for coaches who have felt undervalued. The bills passed unanimously through the Florida House and Senate.
