Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Team of the Year: 2024 Cocoa Tigers’ Confidence Never Wavered During Threepeat Performance

Historic threepeat reinforced program’s legacy as one of the top football powerhouses in the state

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced that the 2025 induction ceremony will occur on Saturday, May 24, at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. This will be the first in-person induction since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. To make a reservation for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-323-4460. CLICK HERE to see the 2025 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class.

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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA –Ryan Schneider’s 2024 Cocoa Tigers became champions for the seventh time in school history and achieved a “Threepeat” for the second time after the Tigers did it in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

The 2024 Cocoa Tigers, like they do every year, put together a schedule featuring the most talented teams across the state to compete against.

After they cruised by Titusville and destroyed Mainland, their first loss of the season came at the hands of IMG Academy, a nationally ranked powerhouse from Bradenton, Florida. Cocoa quickly bounced back, defeating Heritage 39-13 the following week.

After traveling to IMG two weeks prior, the Tigers would head to Venice with a daunting task: again, facing a nationally ranked opponent. Cocoa and Venice gave the fans an absolute barnburner that ended in a Tigers’ defeat, 54-51.

Although Cocoa faced defeat, their confidence and belief never wavered, even after losing to Miami Norland.

Having lost back-to-back weeks, the taste of losing was getting old for the Tigers, and they would go on to shut out their next three opponents, outscoring them 139-0.

The dominance would not stop there as they shut out Lake Placid 63-0 to open up the FHSAA state playoffs in their journey to win yet another title.

Berkeley Prep and Newberry were no competition for the Tigers, as they beat them both handily.

In the state semifinals, Cardinal Mooney gave the Tigers a mighty fight but could not overcome the connection between quarterback Brady Hart and wide receiver Jayvan Boggs. Hart ended with 508 yards passing, with Boggs on the receiving end of 378 of that.

Suiting up against Gadsden County in the 2A State Championship, the opportunity to three-peat was on the line. Cocoa, clinging to a 2-point lead, 17-15, going into the fourth quarter, came through when it mattered most. Three fourth-quarter touchdowns helped the Tigers secure the victory and earn the championship.

The 2024 Cocoa Tigers achieved the threepeat for the second time in school history, and with the win, Cocoa has now moved into the top 10 all-time list of most state titles in Florida with seven.

Coach Schneider’s Legacy Grows

Cocoa Head Coach Ryan Schneider also saw his legacy grow with the victory. In his seventh season at the helm, Schneider has now led the Tigers to an impressive 79-18 record and three consecutive state titles. His ability to keep the team focused and motivated year after year is a testament to his coaching prowess and leadership.

The win marked an important milestone in Schneider’s coaching journey, solidifying his place as one of Florida’s premier high school football coaches.

Historic Championship Run

With the 38-27 win over Gadsden County, Cocoa not only completed a historic three-peat but also reinforced the program’s legacy as one of the top football powerhouses in the state. The Tigers have now won seven state championships in their history, a testament to their consistency and excellence.

This state football championship marks the Tigers’ seventh title, including in 1991, 2000, 2007, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

As the team celebrates its latest championship, the players and coaching staff will look ahead to the future, knowing they have set the standard for excellence in Florida high school football.

THE 2025 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will occur at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne on Saturday, May 24. FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, or to make a reservation, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The 2025 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony is sponsored by Health First and presented by Tom and Suzie Wasdin

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA—The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced that the 2025 induction ceremony will occur on Saturday, May 24, at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. This will be the first in-person induction since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony, sponsored by Health First and presented by Tom and Suzie Wasdin, will be held on the evening of May 24. The Meet-and-Greet will begin at 6 p.m., and dinner and the program will start at 7 p.m.

Tom and Suzie Wasdin are longtime Brevard County entrepreneurs, community supporters, and philanthropists. Tom, an NCAA Final Four basketball coach and Brevard Sports Ambassador, was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

The meet-and-greet will include an opportunity to talk with the area’s sports royalty. Dinner and the induction proceeding, which will include compelling video tributes to each inductee, will follow.

The Brevard County High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards will be held Saturday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., also at Eastern Florida State College.

During the Breakfast of Champions, more than 40 awards will be presented to the best of the 2024-2025 male and female high school student-athletes in each sport. For sponsorship information, call 321-323-4460 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

Both the Breakfast of Champions and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame events will be streamed live on Space Coast Daily TV.

Health First, Erdman Automotive, Eastern Florida State College, All Points, Clear Choice Health Care, Brevard Public Schools, Space Coast Office of Tourism, EDC of the Space Coast, 4Ever Young Merritt Island, and Savings Safari sponsor the 2025 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event and the Brevard County High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards.

To make a reservation for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-323-4460.

INDUCTEES SELECTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES

Nominees are chosen in four categories: professional sports, college sports, high school sports, and amateur sports. Special honorary recognition is also bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025

■ PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jamel Dean, Football; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Wrestling; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Football; Randy Pobst, Auto racing; Juwaan Taylor, Football

■ COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Paulette King, Basketball, Dylan Lewis, Soccer; Steve Freeman, Soccer; Bryan Cook, Baseball

■ PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lexy Denaburg, Volleyball; Andi Sellers, Soccer; Kaira Simmons, Track & Field; Jayvan Boggs, Football

■ AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Alli Penovich, Free Diving; Peter Blount, Track & Field; Caylor Williams, Wrestling

■ COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Doug Butler, Cross Country and Track; Gerald Hodgin, Football; Jim Oler, Basketball; Don Smith, Basketball

• SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEES: Ted Ruta

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Steve Vaughn

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Loren McClanahan

■ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEES: Larry Garrison, Clint Hurdle

■ SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Rusty Buchanan

■ CHALLENGER AWARD INDUCTEE: Joshua Dillon

■ TEAM OF THE YEAR: Cocoa Tigers Football

■ LEGACY CHAMPIONS: Merritt Island Baseball, 1999-2000

■ SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Tim Wakefield

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has inducted over 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches, and sports personalities. Eastern Florida State’s Titan Fieldhouse on the Melbourne Campus hosts the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Portraits of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway, which runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices.

To make a reservation for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-323-4460.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches, and sports personalities.

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