Cape Coral High football players took the field walking side-by-side in a long procession on Friday, Sept. 12.
Offensive lineman Samuel Dugarte led the team onto the Seahawks’ home field carrying a black T-shirt with the name “Coach Murph” and the number 16 on the back.
The Seahawks made the display to honor their former coach Tyler Murphy, who resigned earlier in the week citing personal reasons for his abrupt departure. The move has left parents and players alike wondering why their head coach was gone in such short order and searching for answers from school officials.
“The kids are hurt, but we’re gonna find a way to turn that into success,” said Cape Coral interim head coach and former star player Jaylen Watkins. “It’s exactly what Coach Murphy has instilled in all of us. This last week has been one of those things that we talk about, with team adversity. It’s not adversity that we thought we would experience this year.
“When you’re on a team and you create a culture and a brotherhood, we’re ready for whatever adversity is in place. We’ll deal with it today, and hopefully see Coach Murphy back here soon.”
The 33-year-old Murphy, a former University of Florida quarterback, joined his former Gators teammate Watkins on the Seahawks coaching staff in January 2024. That August, the school elevated Murphy to head coach after the resignation of Isaac Harvin, who was being investigated for inappropriate calls and texts with female students.
The Seahawks won a district title and went 8-2 in Murphy’s first season, and started the season 3-0 before his departure. Cape Coral won its first game without Murphy against Island Coast on Senior Night 60-6.
Lee County School Board member Sam Fisher was in attendance at Friday’s game and had a prolonged conversation postgame with Watkins. Fisher, the chair of the board, declined comment. Cape Coral athletic director Tom Kenna also didn’t comment.
Tiffany Miranda has had multiple children go through Cape Coral High, with her oldest, Damien, graduating in 2023. Now she’s watching her second-youngest, Vincent, star on Friday nights. She described Murphy’s impact as extremely influential, ranging from program morale to helping players mature in their teens.
“We went from never winning, to everyone hating us, to winning every single game with the same kids that we were losing with,” Miranda said. “To say he hasn’t made an impact on and off the field is absolutely insane.
“The program has turned a 360. And for anyone to deny that, it’s just crazy. And for anyone to deny that, it’s just crazy… A lot of us do know what happened, at least what the rumor is. But overall, he deserves to get his job back.”
Miranda believed the situation wasn’t handled appropriately, with him in essence being forced out of his position.
“I think they scared him,” Miranda said. “They played scare tactics. He’s never been in this situation before. So, they forced him into a scare tactic to resign and leave these kids behind. And that’s affected the kids in a negative way. Obviously, I can see on the field, they’re still fighting hard for him.
“But these kids are coming home upset, crying. Life, their life’s changing because this gentleman is no longer with them due to a poor decision, a rash decision, made by the school that didn’t take anyone into consideration. I could go on forever.”
Cape Coral defensive back Jayden Reyes has been a mainstay on the varsity program, a quintessential piece in last year’s turnaround in an 8-1 regular season. It was paramount that he and his teammates didn’t let this week’s events derail the team, but instead, bring them closer together.
“It was rough finding out what happened, but we couldn’t let that bring us down,” Reyes said. “That actually made us work harder this week. We have a strong standard that we all live by, so them taking one person from the family doesn’t change anything. We still held up to the standard and played for Murph because that’s what he would’ve wanted us to do instead of having the team break down.
“We’re gonna keep living to the standard. Nothing changes in this program. We’re still going to do great things, and we’re gonna fight to bring our coach back.”
Watkins still believes his former college roommate will make a return to the sidelines, and said Murphy will continue to be the right person to lead the program moving forward.
“He’s the best person I’ve ever met,” Watkins said. “That’s why I asked him to come to the school that I went to. I care about this school so much. He’s still the best person for this job. He’s still the best person for those kids, and I think every kid over here would tell you the same. I think everyone in those stands would tell you the same as well. Whatever the issue is, we don’t have information.
“We just wanna know that he’s OK and at some point, that he’s back on that sideline with us because we have a mission together.”
In pregame warmups, Watkins’ passion continued to be on full display, sharing a passionate message for plenty on the field to hear.
“Free Murph,” Watkins said. “Free my guy.”
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral football coach Tyler Murphy’s abrupt resignation has left many in program upset
Reporting by Alex Martin, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
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