Two rebuilding football programs in Lee County’s East Zone are starting fresh and going with first-time head coaches.
Gateway High moved on from Charles Powell after two seasons and a 3-17 record. His replacement will be Chris Strykowski, who most recently served as Charlotte’s assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.
“His depth of knowledge, organizational leadership, and commitment to fundamentals makes him an outstanding fit for our program,” Gateway athletic director Ernesto Adamo said in a release. “Coach Strykowski’s passion for developing young men on and off the field aligns perfectly with the culture we are building at Gateway.”
East Lee County announced the hire of Justin Dyer last month, who comes across the bridge from Island Coast. He most recently was an assistant coach with the Gators under Steve O’Neal and Tyran Jones. The program finished 1-9 last season.
Dyer replaces Steve Howard, who went 0-10 in his only season with the Jaguars after going 0-20 in two seasons leading Ida Baker.
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: Gateway, East Lee have hired new head football coaches for 2026
Reporting by Alex Martin, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
