Cocoa Tigers Tab Former UCF QB, MCC Offensive Coordinator Ryan Schneider as Next Head Football Coach

By  //  March 27, 2018

holds UCF record for most passing yards in single game

New Cococa head football coach Ryan Schneider spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the offensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas where the Raiders won state championships both seasons, including a 45-10 victory over Viera in the 2015 championship game. Last season Schneider was the Melbourne Central Catholic Hustlers offensive coordinator under head coach Stacey Sizemore. (Image by STA)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA FLORIDA – Cocoa High School named former UCF Knight quarterback Ryan Schneider their new head football coach.

Schneider replaces Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer John Wilkinson, who announced earlier this month that he is leaving after 13-seasons and four state championships to take the head coaching job at New Smyrna Beach for the Baracuddas.

“I’m excited and honored to be apart of such a great school and community,”said Schneider.

“I’m looking forward to building on the strong traditions and values Coach Wilkinson has established.

“I can’t wait to start building a relationship with our student-athletes, faculty, alumni, parents, and student body.  We will strive to help our players reach their goals athletically, academically and socially.”

First reported by Jordan Rocco of the Tiger Times, Schneider becomes the seventh new head coach of the Brevard County high school football off-season.

Last season Schneider was the Melbourne Central Catholic Hustlers offensive coordinator under head coach Stacey Sizemore. The Hustlers averaged 34 points per game and accumulated 3,108 yards of total offense.

MCC played one of the toughest schedules in the area if not the state and lost to Oxbridge Academy, the eventual state runner-up in Class 3A to Chaminade Madonna in the state regional final.

Schneider spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the offensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas where the Raiders won state championships both seasons, including a 45-10 victory over Viera in the 2015 championship game.

With Schneider in charge of the offense, St. Thomas averaged 356 yards per game, 38 points per contest and compiled a two-year record of 26-3.

Schneider was a fixture on the sidelines with St. Thomas head coach Roger Harriott to start his coaching career.

The two won a state title in Fort Lauderdale with University School in 2012 and Schneider joined Harriott at Florida Atlantic University in 2014 where he was named defensive quality control coach while Harriott was the assistant head coach and worked with running backs.

Harriott became the head coach of St. Thomas in 2015 and Schneider joined him before coming to Melbourne Central Catholic last summer.

Schneider was a great high school and college quarterback. Named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A Player of the Year in 1998,  Schneider graduated from Plantation High in 1999 and went on to play collegiately for head coach Mike Kruczek at UCF. 

Schneider played for the UCF Knights from 2000 to 2003 where he passed 9,027 yards and tossed 69 touchdown passes during his career with the Knights. (UCF image)
Cocoa Tigers Head Coach John Wilkinson Leaves Cocoa After 13 Seasons To Return To New Smyrna BeachRelated Story:
Cocoa Tigers Head Coach John Wilkinson Leaves Cocoa After 13 Seasons To Return To New Smyrna Beach

Schneider played for the Knights from 2000 until 2003 where he is still second in program history behind Daunte Culpepper with 10,976 passing yards. His 82 touchdown strikes during his career also rank second behind Culpepper.

Schneider still holds the school record for passing yards in a single game when he threw for 497 against Florida Atlantic in 2003. Until last season, he held the school record for passing yards in a season (3,770) and most touchdown passes in a season with 31.

Sophomore QB sensation McKenzie Milton broke both marks during the Knights remarkable undefeated season last year with 4,037 and 37 respectively.

Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for updates on this story.

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