{"id":81774,"date":"2026-07-13T20:27:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T00:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/?p=81774"},"modified":"2026-07-13T20:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T00:27:54","slug":"blue-devils-move-quickly-name-corey-boatman-head-football-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/blue-devils-move-quickly-name-corey-boatman-head-football-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Devils Move Quickly, Name Corey Boatman Head Football Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WINTER HAVEN, Fla.<\/strong> \u2013 Winter Haven High School has named Corey Boatman as its new head football coach, moving quickly to fill the position just weeks before the start of the 2026 football season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corey Boatman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The announcement comes less than two days after former head coach White accepted another coaching opportunity, leaving the Blue Devils searching for new leadership just before preseason preparations ramp up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a message to the Winter Haven community, school officials acknowledged the unexpected change while expressing confidence in the program\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know this has been a whirlwind 48 hours,\u201d the announcement stated. \u201cWhile we are disappointed in losing a head coach a few weeks before the start of the season, it is encouraging that our administration took swift action in making sure our program had a new leader ready to step up and take charge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boatman, who has already been part of the Blue Devils coaching staff, said the transition will not change the expectations that have been set for the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs many of you know by now, Coach White has accepted another opportunity. We appreciate everything he has done for our program and wish him nothing but success moving forward,\u201d Boatman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want every one of you to hear this from me: our standard does not change. Our expectations do not change. Our goals do not change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boatman said he already knows the team well after working alongside the players throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in the trenches with you every day. I know this team, I know what we\u2019re capable of, and I believe in every one of you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the focus of the program will continue to be centered on helping student-athletes succeed both on the field and beyond graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis program has always been about the players, and that will continue to be true. Every decision we make will be centered around putting you in the best position to succeed\u2014not only this season, but in life and in your future after football.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boatman also emphasized continuity within the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not starting over. We\u2019re moving forward,\u201d he said. \u201cOur coaching staff will continue working relentlessly to prepare you, develop you, and compete for championships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged players to remain united as the season approaches, saying, \u201cAdversity doesn\u2019t define great teams\u2014how they respond does.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. \u2013 Winter Haven High School has named Corey Boatman as its new head football coach, moving quickly to fill the position just weeks before the start of the 2026 football season. The announcement comes less than two days after former head coach White accepted another coaching opportunity, leaving the Blue Devils searching […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":81772,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[399],"class_list":["post-81774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fast-factual-free","tag-winter-haven-high-school"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_5928.jpeg?fit=249%2C389&ssl=1","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t