Park Vista football begins new search ahead of coach's departure
LAKE WORTH — Another new coach will be in the front seat of Park Vista's football program in 2023 as Brandon Walker intends to step away at the end of the school year.
In a statement shared with The Post by the Department of Communications at the Palm Beach County School District, Park Vista High Principal Dr. Enrique Vela said:
"Park Vista Community High School’s head football coach, Brandon Walker, informed me that he will leave his position at the end of this academic year. We have begun a national search for a new, highly-qualified, head football coach for the 2023-24 school year. The next head football coach will continue our strong commitment to athletic excellence and academic aptitude, and will work to elevate our football program and players on and off the field. We wish Coach Walker well in his future endeavors."
Walker was "looking to add varsity coaches for the 2023 season" to help wide receiver, defensive back and running back position groups as of a Twitter post made on Dec 15.
He went 2-8 in his one-season stint with the Cobras. Walker took over following the tumultuous firing of former coach and NFL Pro Bowler Leonard Weaver III in February 2022.
Coaching Carousel Continues:Ex-NFL coach Brian VanGorder resigns from American Heritage-Delray
Spring Football:Pahokee coach Emmanuel Hendrix suspended for 6 weeks of spring football
Catch Up with the Cobras:Park Vista baseball's depth dominates Gardens to kick off season in Santaluces Slam
Walker inherited a roster with talent, although drained of such weapons as running back Jordan Clemons and defensive stud Gavin Peacock who saw Vista go 7-2 in 2022. It was the Cobras' best winning percentage since finishing 10-1 in 2016-17 under longtime coach Brian Dodds.
Despite the struggles, a 21-18 upset of a then-undefeated Santaluces in the second-to-last game of the regular season made it seem as though things were possibly clicking again.
Prior to his Park Vista move last March, Walker worked at Boca Raton High, where he went 13-8 in two seasons as the head football coach before stepping away to serve the Bobcats as athletic director in December 2019.
Park Vista joins Wellington, Olympic Heights, Boca Raton, King's Academy, Palm Beach Lakes, and most recently, American Heritage-Delray, among Palm Beach County high school football programs announcing head coach changes this offseason.
Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Park Vista football head coach Brandon Walker set to depart
