This story was updated to include that Andrew Clawson will serve as Barron Collier’s interim head coach for its games this season.
Barron Collier football coach Brannon Tidwell has been suspended from coaching games for the entire 2026-27 school year and fined $5,000 by the FHSAA after the school self-reported recruiting violations by the coach.
In a letter emailed to players and their families on July 20, Barron Collier principal Sean Kinsley said Tidwell will remain the team’s coach and that the school “will ensure all requirements of the FHSAA ruling are met while maintaining continuity and support for our student-athletes throughout the season.”
Tidwell’s suspension will allow him to be “involved in all facets of the football program,” but he “will not be present for any preseason, regular season, or potential post season contests at any level,” according to Kinsley’s letter. His suspension will expire on June 3, 2027.
Andrew Clawson, an assistant football coach for the Cougars and the head coach of the freshman team, will serve as Barron Collier’s interim head coach on game nights.
Tidwell and Barron Collier athletic director Michael Sartorio did not immediately return calls seeking comment on July 20.
The FHSAA also placed Barron Collier on administrative probation for one year and fined the school $2,500. However, $2,250 of the fine will be returned provided the school commits no additional violations during its probationary period.
Lely High School filed a recruiting allegation on May 28, citing four of its students were improperly contacted by Tidwell via text, and a former Lely student, who transferred to Barron Collier in January, helped the coach contact players.
In response to the allegations, Barron Collier and Collier County administrators questioned Tidwell and then self-reported a violation of improper contact to the FHSAA in June.
Numerous text messages submitted as evidence showed instances of Tidwell communicating with the players, directing them to Collier County transfer instructions, encouraging them to join the Barron football team, and inviting them to the sideline of a practice.
According to previous reporting by The News-Press and Naples Daily News, as well as subsequent social media posts, at least a half-dozen former Lely football players have transferred to Barron Collier since the end of the 2025 season.
In a June 3 letter addressed to the FHSAA, Tidwell accepted responsibility for these communications, including the spring practice invitation, and noted, “I know that the students need to be directed to guidance/district for open enrollment if they have any questions. I accept responsibility for this action.
“Spring practices are open to the public,” he wrote. “Some of the students in question came over and watched practice but should not have been on our sideline. I understand the students should not have been on the field and if they were just watching the open practice, they should have been in the stands. I should not have asked them or permitted them to be there at practice or on the field. I accept responsibility for this incident.”
Barron Collier hired Tidwell, an alumnus who graduated in 1996, last February. Tidwell replaced Mark Jackson, who stepped down after 10 years leading the program, and went 4-6 in his first season.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Barron Collier football coach Brannon Tidwell suspended, fined by FHSAA
Reporting by Ed Reed and Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ed Reed and Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
