Nease High School defensive coordinator Robert Garth will not return to the school’s football team this season following a decision from the St. Johns County School District.
Garth was initially investigated for violating recruiting rules by corresponding with a student-athlete not enrolled at Nease, but the Florida High School Athletic Association later downgraded the violation to a lesser, non-recruiting offense and reduced his suspension.
That cleared him to potentially return for the remainder of the season, but the school district decided not to reinstate him, citing its own policies and standards.
The ruling was announced in an email to Nease parents on Monday night, a copy of which was obtained by The Citizen.
“At this time, Robert Garth will not be reinstated as a volunteer for the remainder of the current football season,” Nease Principal Gina Fonseca wrote. “This determination is consistent with district protocols regarding volunteer and adjunct coaches under similar circumstances. We appreciate the time and dedication Coach Garth has given to Nease High School and the Nease football team and wish him success in his future endeavors.”
Reached for comment by The Citizen, Garth declined to address the ruling at this time.
The decision follows an amended ruling from the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), which reduced Garth’s original six-game suspension to three games and reclassified the violation he was cited for.
Initially, Garth had been found in violation of FHSAA Policy 36.3.2.1 for contact with a student-athlete not enrolled at Nease—a policy typically applied in recruiting violations.
The association later moved the case under Policy 37.2.1 after determining there was no recruiting intent.
The school’s fine was reduced from $2,500 to $250. Garth, a volunteer coach, was initially levied a $5,000 fine, which the FHSAA later acknowledged was not enforceable.
The contact in question involved a student-athlete then enrolled at Sandalwood High School.
The student did not ultimately transfer to Nease. According to an FHSAA report sent to the Ponte Vedra school on Sept. 25, the association received a formal allegation of improper contact, prompting Garth’s initial six-game suspension.
According to a report in News4Jax, the FHSAA initially believed Garth had reached out to the student-athlete unprompted, and the player’s mother supported that claim in her original statement.
However, in a follow-up letter, she said she later learned that the player’s father had contacted Garth first and asked for help with college recruiting, something she hadn’t been aware of at the time.
The father confirmed this in an email to the FHSAA and News4JAX, saying he gave Garth permission to contact his son for counsel.
Garth was eligible to return for last week’s game against Bartram Trail under FHSAA guidelines, but the district determined the violation still conflicted with its internal standards and opted not to reinstate him.
Coach Preston Harris will continue to serve as Nease’s defensive coordinator through the end of the 2025 season.
