The Florida Coaches Coalition, which was founded two years ago to advocate for better pay among high school coaches, took a significant step toward making that happen. 

On Tuesday, the organization, along with the Florida Education Association, announced it has a meeting with members of the Florida Legislature scheduled for Dec. 7, the week of the state football championship games in Tallahassee. 

It is the first opportunity state legislatures will hear from coaches about the low pay, which amounts to a few dollars on the hour given the time commitments with sports that run throughout the school year with offseason training programs. 

Two months ago, Pasco County school district leaders reached a preliminary agreement with the teachers union for an increase in athletic and academic supplements that totaled $1.3 million.

The raise could help retain coaches. 

Seven of Pasco County’s 14 public school football programs have gone through at least one coaching change in the last two years.  

River Ridge’s Greg Miller and Pasco’s Alphonso Freeney, each left after their first year this past offseason for out-of-state jobs, where the pay was significantly more.

Pinellas County also has raised supplement pay recently. 

But those are county initiatives.

The Florida Coaches Coalition is focused on a more statewide effort. The organization is asking high school and college coaches to speak and speak on the importance of increased compensation.