Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High football wrapped up its first week of fall practice on July 31, with head coach Ted Kimmey expressing optimism about the team's progress. The Minutemen, entering the 2026 season with a young roster and a core of senior leaders, have seen better-than-expected attendance and effort during drills. 'The numbers are way better than I thought,' Kimmey said. 'The kids are busting their tails.'
The team finished 2-8 last season, but Kimmey pointed to several close games as evidence of untapped potential. The Minutemen lost four contests by a combined 12 points, including two by one possession and two by two possessions. 'We had multiple games where if we catch the football at the end, it’s a win instead of a loss,' Kimmey said. 'Our record doesn’t reflect our true feelings about what we can be.'
This season, the Minutemen are switching to a triple option run scheme, a departure from their previous pass-heavy approach. Last year, the team recorded 1,952 passing yards and 622 rushing yards. 'That’s going to help us out a lot,' Kimmey said. A former Army football player, he emphasized the scheme’s ability to create defensive confusion. 'When you run the option, it puts a lot of defenders in conflict,' he said. 'They got to be right all the time.'
Senior quarterback Ryan Rogers, who completed one pass for 28 yards last season, will lead the new offense. Kimmey called Rogers 'a big, strong kid' who has 'a lot of potential.' The Minutemen open their season on August 26 against Satellite High, with their first home game on September 1 against Rockledge.