- May 12, 2026
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Stranded.
That’s the worrisome situation the Braden River High football players found themselves in, and without much warning.
They lost their head football coach mere weeks before spring ball was about to begin. The program looked to have lost direction, and someone had to step up, and fast.
Rick Farmer came forward to provide a compass.
Farmer is the new Braden River High football coach. Former coach Jason Grain stepped down at the end of March, and the school's administration settled on Farmer April 27 — the first day of the team’s spring practices.
It’s his first head-coaching gig at the high school level following 16 seasons of coaching experience in the sport, largely accumulated as a defensive coordinator. He served in that role for the past two seasons under Grain.
In that time, he made a strong enough impression on athletic director Matthew Nesser to be chosen for the top job.
“To be the defensive coordinator, you're kind of like a head coach. You're running the ship on one side,” Nesser said. “I felt, in the two years that coach Farmer worked here, he was in control of his domain there… I believe he’s ready.”
Grain posted a 6-13 record during his two-year stint, in which staying competitive often proved to be a struggle.
The team missed the regional playoffs both seasons and failed to win a game in its district.
His decision to leave the program was for personal reasons Nesser would not disclose. The school was not involved in that decision.
Rarely is there ideal timing for such a departure, but Grain left at a particularly poor time. His former players were left wondering who would coach them.
Less than a month to hire a football coach might as well have been a few days. For any school in Florida, it’s the most crucial hire to make, demanding a well thought-out, comprehensive process.
Nesser, though, said there was enough time to make a good decisionfor that.
“Last time was a little tougher than this time, but I thought we had ample time and I thought the candidate pool was solid,” Nesser said. “We obviously feel like we got the best candidate.”
Grain was hired June 5 ahead of the 2024 season, which formally began August 23 with an away game at Gainesville. Farmer has a luxury his predecessor didn’t — an entire spring in his new role.
Statistically, his track record with the Pirates is consistent, but there’s room for improvement. His defense allowed 28.1 points per game last season, and in 2024, surrendered an average of 28.
Before Braden River, his coaching career began as a graduate assistant for the University of Nebraska at Kearney — NCAA Division II — followed by stints at Miami Beach High and Chapel Hill High in Georgia, calling plays on defense.
Since returning to Florida, he’s been the offensive coordinator for South Broward, as well as the defensive coordinator for Lakewood Ranch and Palmetto. He said he’s worked on seven different staffs throughout his time in coaching.
“One of the things that I’m big on is making sure we’re early to everything we do — making sure that we’re disciplined,” Farmer said. “That’s extremely important to me right now, because if we get the small details right, then the bigger things will take care of themselves.”
Discipline is the buzz word currently exchanged between him, his staff and his players. It’s at the core of his philosophy.
He pointed to poor discipline as an overarching reason for the past two seasons’ shortcomings. Additionally, he acknowledged the Pirates were sophomore-heavy when they went just 2-7 in 2024, and that this year’s group should benefit from the approximately 20 seniors on the roster.
Braden River hasn’t posted a winning record since 2021, when it finished 9-2 under then-coach Curt Bradley and reached the FHSAA Class 6A regional semifinals.
Farmer will need to change that soon if he’s going to stick around long-term.
“He already has connections with some of the players. I feel like that’s key,” said junior quarterback Louisen Desinor. “We’ve already molded (around) him. We know what to expect from him.”
Before the regular season begins, the first-time head coach is focused on maximizing competition. He wants to see the team’s offense win practice battles on some days and the defense do so on other days.
His first week in the role was chaotic, but May 6, he felt like he could finally breathe.
The season ahead will keep him plenty busy. With the Pirates in need of a turnaround, 2026 will be an opportunity to prove he's up to the task.
An accelerated hiring cycle doesn't mean the expectations should be anything short of winning.
“We have no choice but to trust the process — new coach, new scheme, new everything,” Desinor said. “If we just continue to buy in day-by-day and get 1% better every day, we’ll be just fine going into the season.”
