The final high school football head coaching vacancy in the Gainesville area has been filled.

P.K. Yonge announced the hiring of Israel Wilcox as the program’s next head coach Monday, April 20.

In a statement put out by the school, athletic director Kelly Barrett called Wilcox “a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience.”

“Coach Wilcox brings not only experience, but a clear vision for restoring the pride and tradition of our football program,” Barrett said. “His dedication to mentorship, organization, and player development makes him the ideal leader for our student-athletes.”

Wilcox played for P.K. Yonge and has been influenced throughout his career by coaching legends John Clifford and Randall Leath. Off the field, he founded F.A.T.S. (Furthering Adolescent Tutoring and Sports), a mentoring program “focused on guiding young individuals through both academics and athletics.”

“I, Israel Wilcox, have a deep passion for P.K. Yonge, the game of football, student success, and program development. Most importantly, I am committed to the values and tradition of P.K.Y.,” Wilcox said in a statement. “This is a special opportunity, and I’m looking forward to working with our players, staff, and community to build something we can all be proud of.”

Barrett let go of Willie Jackson in January. The Florida football legend, who comes from a family of Gators, took over his Alma Mater in 2023. He compiled a 8-22 record, with a playoff appearance in 2024.

This past season, the Blue Wave struggled with a 0-10 record. The program will compete as an independent in 2026 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2021.

Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: P.K. Yonge football hires Israel Wilcox as its new head coach