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Randy Beeken leaves as Poinciana’s all-time leader in football coaching wins with 20. FILE PHOTO
Poinciana head football coach Randy Beeken was relieved of his duties by the school Monday after five seasons as head coach. His last time donning the headset was Friday’s 35-8 Eagles victory over rival Liberty in the Battle of the Boulevard.
That was the 20th win for Poinciana since 2019, making Beeken (20-29 record) the winningest coach in program history. The Eagles 4-6 this season playing as an independent.
In all, between coaching JV football, as well as wrestling, weightlifting and softball, Beeken has a decade of service in at PHS.
Beeken said after school Monday he was told, “The administration wanted to go in another direction.”
“I am very disappointed in the lack of loyalty for the time and effort I put into the program,” he said Tuesday night. “If they want to move in a different direction, I hope that direction works out for them.”
Prior to the 2021 season, he talked about why he made the hour-long daily commute from home in Groveland.
“I’m not doing this with my eye on the next job,” he said. “I want to build something where kids want to play at Poinciana. When I’m done here, I’m done coaching.”
Poinciana Athletic Director Tiffany Kelly would not address any specific reasons the school is making a change on the sideline.
“Sometimes, it’s just time,” she said. “The job will be open to anyone who wants to apply, and the principal (Jeffrey Schwartz) and I will sit and review who can fit this role the best for the great kids we’ve got here.
“Randy and I are good, and he’s been good for the program for the time he’s been here.”
Beeken will teach his automotive technology class through the end of the year at PHS, and coach the Eagles’ softball team this spring. Beyond that, he said he's open to coaching football elsewhere in the future.
The Eagles have played as an independent in football the last four seasons — Beeken reasoned that district play would include them with the likes of state powers Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Gibson and Bartow, and being able to choose a more competitive schedule would lead to more wins and success. “I hope that changes the culture in a hurry,” he said entering 2021, and in 2022 PHS had an 8-2 record, the best in school history following a 1-9 year in 2021, and were primed for a bowl game matchup with St. Cloud before Hurricane Nicole canceled it.
