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Garis named new Oakleaf football coach

By Randy Lefko
Posted 1/17/18

OAKLEAF – Oakleaf High School football named former Orange Park, Clay and Ponte Vedra coach Frank Garis as the latest head coach as the Knights look to upgrade from this year’s surprising 2-8 …

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Garis named new Oakleaf football coach


Posted

OAKLEAF – Oakleaf High School football named former Orange Park, Clay and Ponte Vedra coach Frank Garis as the latest head coach as the Knights look to upgrade from this year’s surprising 2-8 won/lost record under departed coach Steve Reynolds, who took over in 2016, went 7-3 before dropping to 2-8 in 2017.

Garis, 30, and part of Final Four runs with Clay High in 2013 and, most recently, with Ponte Vedra High School last year, plus a part of the 2005 Class 4A Nease state champ team as a player, brings a wealth of championship experience to the Knights’ program that has got only as close as a region final in 2014 under coach Derek Chipoletti, who finished 12-1 with a first-ever unbeaten 10-0 regular season record, a district title and a first-ever playoff win at Oakleaf High School. Oakleaf will be Garis’ first foray as a head coach after coaching nearly every position on a football field.

“There’s a lot of good players in this room,” said Garis. “I probably coached some older brothers of you guys. I have seen what Oakleaf is in the games that I was on the opposite sideline.”

Garis, who grew up in Cleveland and attended Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, did played offensive line in front of quarterback Tim Tebow in the Nease state title run in 2005.

“I started coaching in my senior year at Nease in 2006,” said Garis, who also coached at year at Orange Park High (2007) before returning to his alma mater Nease in 2008. “That’s where the passion started.”

From 2009 through 2014, Garis followed coach Matt Toblin to Clay High where he coached also with present Blue Devil coach Joshua Hoekstra. After Toblin left Clay in 2011, Hoekstra guided Clay to the Class 5A title game in 2013. American Heritage beat Clay in that title game.

After Clay, Garis followed Toblin again to Ponte Vedra High where the Sharks earned a Class 5A title bid with a semifinal win over Clay before losing to American Heritage in the title game.

In her presentation of Garis to the Oakleaf High football boys on Friday, Oakleaf High Principal Treasure Pickett indicated that

Garis’ expertise in helping teams get to the state championship game was a big selling point for his hire.

“He has things that we want called state championships,” said Pickett to the Oakleaf team. “That’s what we want. We want that ring like our softball has.”

Garis, with his on-field experience against Oakleaf in past years, sees a return to the rugged matches of past rivalries within the county and beyond.

“There is a lot of similar kids, coaches and philosophies in Clay County and I think the county schools here are returning to all the schools being competitive each year,” said Garis.

Garis considers Oakleaf a “gem” of football in Jacksonville area.

“They have a great feeder system with good junior high football,” said Garis. “The elementary schools are also close to the high school and the kids all have played a bunch together before they get here.”

Garis will come in teaching physical education at Oakleaf High School.