PORT ST. LUCIE — Port St. Lucie football coach Doug Kerr will not return for the 2009 season.

Principal Terry Davis informed Kerr he would not be re-appointed Tuesday evening and told the team of the decision Wednesday after school. Kerr was preparing for his fifth season, as spring football is set to begin Friday.

“I’ve concluded we’ve reached a plateau in our program,” Davis said. “These decisions are difficult, but I’ve decided it’s time to bring in someone new to take the program to a different level.”

The Jaguars won their first district game since 2003 this past season but finished 3-7. The team was 11-28 in four years under Kerr’s guidance.

When asked why the decision was made so late after the end of the season and so soon before spring football, Davis said, “it’s a difficult decision to make.” He said there were no other reasons for Kerr not being re-appointed.

Davis said although Kerr did not succeed in the wins column, he did have a positive influence on the team.

“When he came in 2005, the varsity and junior varsity teams had about 26 players combined,” Davis said. “The program was in serious decline. He is a very positive individual, he builds relationships with the players and he very quickly brought the numbers back up. I think he had to even cut some positions last year.

“Before he came, football players were booed at pep rallies, but he turned that around very quickly. He really salvaged the program from almost ruin and helped change the climate.”

Kerr, who will remain at Port St. Lucie as a reading teacher, said he was surprised by the news, but understood the principal’s decision.

“I was hired four years ago to get the program back on track from almost being in shambles, and I can look back and say I did what I was supposed to do,” said Kerr, who plans to look around the area to see what other openings are available. “Mr. Davis had a decision to make, but I had no intentions of not coaching next year. I was getting ready for spring practice, so I was probably more surprised than anyone.”

Davis said he will announce an interim coach by Friday, an equipment check day for the team, and the first practice will be Monday.

“I’m going to name an interim coach to get through the spring season, and during that time the athletic director and I will make a decision about how to move forward,” Davis said.

By Laurel Pfahler, TCPalm.com

Tags: cuts, football, informant, jaguar, name, Port St. Lucie football coach Doug Kerr, Principal Terry Davis, rally, reading, Schools, spring, teacher, teachers

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