JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Paul Pierson is out, and Terry Gilliam is back as head football coach at Ed White High School.
The move comes as somewhat of a shock.
Pierson, who had been with Ed White for the past two seasons, had the Commanders coming off the program's best season in over a decade, going 11-3 and making it to the Region 1-6A finals. Overall he coached Ed White to a 19-7 record and two state playoff appearances while he was with the program.
According the Florida Times-Union's Justin Barney, reasons for the switch are unclear.
The hiring of Gilliam keeps some familiarity around the Ed White football program. Gilliam coached the Commanders from 2004 to 2012, before Pierson took over, notching a 60-36 record and five playoff appearances.
While he was fired in 2012 as head coach, he stayed with the school as a teacher, so he should know the program and players well.
According to Barney, Gilliam will retain most of the coaching staff that is already in place.
Follow Timothy Bee on Twitter at @timbeesports
