Denton ISD athletic director announces retirement
· Yahoo Sports
After more than 30 years in Texas public education, Denton ISD's athletic director Joey Florence announced Friday he will retire at the end of June.
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Florence has been in the role with Denton ISD since January 2014, where the district said he oversaw unprecedented growth and success throughout all of its athletic programs.
"I will forever be grateful for my time in Denton and with Denton ISD,” Florence said in a statement. “To the students, coaches, administrators, and Board of Trustees—both past and present—thank you for trusting me with the opportunity to pursue my passion for kids and public education. Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I have been truly blessed."
Before his time as an athletic director, Florence was a head football coach for more than 20 years, compiling an overall record of 205-53, a winning percentage of 79.5%, and becoming one of the winningest high school football coaches in Texas history. Florence's first head coaching position was when he was 28 at Cooper High School in 1994, becoming one of the youngest head coaches in Texas at that time.
Florence first joined Denton ISD in 2000 as Ryan High School's head football coach, turning the team into a perennial powerhouse and flipping them from a 1-win team to a 12-3 team in the span of his first season. Ryan High School became the first Denton ISD athletic program in district history to win consecutive state titles in 2001 and 2002. He also led them to further state appearances in 2003 and 2010.
“Coach Florence has been the standard of excellence in Denton ISD athletics for more than two decades,” Denton ISD Superintendent Susannah O’Bara said in a statement. “His leadership extends far beyond wins and championships. He has built a culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and the holistic development of our student-athletes. His impact on the lives of young people across our district is immeasurable, and while he will be deeply missed, his legacy will continue to shape Denton ISD athletics for generations to come.”
Other accolades under Florence's belt include State Coach of the Year twice, District Coach of the Year 10 times, and the UIL Excellence Award in 2006. Florence was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor in 2020, and is recognized as one of the 100 best coaches in the history of Texas high school football.
His last day with Denton ISD is June 30.