The football program at Royal Palm Beach High School needs a new head football coach now that Darin DeCosta has stepped down from the role. The school is conducting a search to fill the vacancy.
DeCosta, who has been the head coach of the Wildcats for the last two years, decided to step down from his position and pursue other professional opportunities within the School District of Palm Beach County.
RPBHS athletic director Eric Patterson said he will miss DeCosta’s passion for coaching young high school athletes.
“Darin’s professionalism, organization and attention to detail will be missed,” Patterson said. “During the past two years, Darin had to overcome a number of obstacles to his student-athletes getting ready to play on a daily basis. Ultimately, Darin has been instrumental in the development of the program and the student-athletes.”
At RPBHS, DeCosta, who is also an ESE teacher at the school, provided great leadership during uncertain times.
“Royal Palm Beach High School is thankful for everything coach DeCosta has done for the athletic program during the pandemic,” RPBHS Principal Michelle Fleming said. “His leadership contributed to the sense of connectivity that the student-athletes had to the campus. Now that we are in-person, his leadership has positively impacted student-athletes transitioning to brick-and-mortar settings. We wish him the best as he moves forward to his next endeavor.”
DeCosta started coaching football at Royal Palm Beach nearly three years ago.
“I joined the staff at Royal Palm Beach in January 2019, and I worked the spring jamboree as the defensive coordinator,” DeCosta said. “That fall, under Davis Lowery, I continued as the defensive coordinator. In December 2019, after Lowery resigned, I was named head coach. I have coached for a total of three years at Royal Palm Beach. I have been coaching high school football in South Florida for more than 15 years.”
DeCosta may be leaving the sidelines of the school’s football team, but a part of him will always be associated with the Wildcats’ football squad.
“I have enjoyed my time at Royal Palm Beach with my past staff and my small current staff,” DeCosta said. “I felt like I had the support of the administration and the athletic department. I will be leaving Royal Palm Beach to continue to advance my teaching career. My plans to coach and referee in the future have not been decided yet.”
