Booker High cancels 2026 football season

There will be no varsity football season for Booker High School this fall.

The Tornadoes announced on their social media pages Wednesday night they cancelled this season, and will only field a junior varsity team in 2026.

"Following changes within the football program, it became clear that rebuilding consistent student participation, trust, and commitment would require time and intentional leadership," Principal Jamal Crook said in the announcement. "Rather than move forward with a varsity season before those foundations are firmly in place, Booker High School is choosing to focus this year on developing the program from the ground up."

Last season, Booker finished 12-2 and reached the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals. It has made three straight state semifinal appearances, with the most recent under Carlos Woods. 

Woods was dismissed as athletic director and football coach last month. No reason was given for his dismissal. At least 20 players transferred to other programs following that decision.

The Observer reported July 29 Woods was involved in an active criminal investigation by the Sarasota Police Department, which the department said does not involve any harm or wrongdoings to students and remains "active and ongoing" as of Monday. Woods denied any criminal wrongdoings to the Observer on July 28.

Booker announced Lance Hoeltke as its new football coach July 29, then backed out of multiple games on its schedule.

On Aug. 7, the FHSAA notified the school it violated FHSAA policy by allowing eighth graders to participate in spring varsity practices, putting it on administrative probation through May 25, 2027, and fining it $500.

"Booker High School has a proud athletic tradition, and our goal is to build a football program that reflects that tradition while creating an experience students want to be part of and our school community can proudly support," Crook said. "We are confident that the work being done today will establish the foundation for a stronger, more connected, and sustainable program moving forward."