Khalil Maycock
Clay County District Schools confirmed the 15-year-old is a student at Fleming Island High. Her name has not been released.
A district spokesperson said a crisis team will be working at the campus so students and staff who need support can speak with them or a school counselor.
The district could not comment on the student’s condition.
Troopers said the teen was in the marked pedestrian crossing, headed north across the intersection around 8 p.m. Wednesday, when a car headed west on Eagle Harbor Parkway rounded the curve and hit her.
According to the report, the 68-year-old woman driving the car couldn’t see the girl as she was crossing.
The teen suffered critical injuries and was taken to HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital by Clay County Fire Rescue.
Joan Bartlett lives not far from where the crash happened and walks in the area constantly. She said she can’t imagine what the teen’s parents are going through.
“That’s very worrisome and scary. I wouldn’t want to get that phone call,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett said she would like to see some changes to prevent incidents like this in the future.
“I’m walking, coming from Publix across this walkway the people that are going to turn left have a stop sign, and just because they have a stop sign doesn’t mean there’s coming up the other side, there’s no stop sign and I can’t see around the cars that stop,” she said.
Bartlett said if a stop sign can’t be put there, she would like to see a crosswalk that lights up when pedestrians are crossing.
The driver was not hurt. She was wearing a seat belt, according to the report.
Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.
A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.
Khalil Maycock joined the News4JAX team in November 2022 after reporting in Des Moines, IA.
Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines
TV Listings
Email Newsletters
RSS Feeds
Contests and Rules
Contact Us
Careers at WJXT / WCWJ
Closed Captioning / Audio Description
WJXT Public File
WJXT EEO Report
WCWJ Public File
WCWJ EEO Report
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell My Info
FCC Applications
Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group
FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – A 15-year-old girl was hit by a car around 8 p.m. Wednesday while crossing Eagle Harbor Parkway at the Town Center Boulevard intersection, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the teen was in the marked pedestrian crossing, headed north across the intersection, when a vehicle headed west on Eagle Harbor Parkway rounded the curve and hit her.
Clay County District Schools confirmed the teen is a student at Fleming Island High. A spokesperson said a crisis team will be working at the campus so students and staff who need support can speak with them or a school counselor.
It’s been a rough couple of years for Jacksonville’s craft brewers
From recent start-ups to longtime favorites like A1A Ale Works and Ragtime Tavern
several craft breweries across Northeast Florida have closed their doors
The latest is relative newcomer Barley & Pie Brewing Company
Just nine months after opening on Fleming Island
including its signature American lager Clay Lite
and handcrafted sourdough neo-Neapolitan pizzas
announced Monday it would close after service on Saturday
“It is with great disappointment that we announce the closure of Barley and Pie,” owners Philip and Kara Maple wrote in a social media post
“Despite pouring our hearts into this business and creating a space for the community
we simply couldn’t compete with the ever-growing number of chain restaurants moving in around us
we struggled to get the support we needed to stay afloat
aggressive pricing from larger competitors
we found ourselves facing an uphill battle we could no longer fight.”
Philip Maple previously co-founded and served as president and brewmaster of Wicked Barley in Jacksonville
Barley & Pie allowed Maple to pursue his passions for craft beer and handcrafted pizzas
And he hoped Fleming Island would be the place to do that
"It was an ‘ah-ha moment’ of ‘there's no brewery out here,’” he told the Times-Union when the restaurant opened in June 2024
“This is not how we wanted our story to end,” he wrote in the social media post
“But we will always be grateful for the moments
and the community that gathered around our offerings
“To those of you who supported us — who chose local over corporate
who believed in craft over convenience — thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The couple encouraged their customers and others to support locally owned restaurants and other businesses
more of us will disappear,” they wrote in their post
'A very heart felt thank you': After 4 years, Jacksonville Beach BBQ restaurant to close
'Deeply grateful for the memories': Funky Jacksonville Beach sandwich shop plans to close
The announcement follows the closings of other notable craft brewers since 2023
In late January, Atlantic Beach dining landmark Ragtime Tavern closed after more than 40 years
steaks and more at the high-profile corner of First Street and Atlantic Boulevard since 1983
Eight months earlier, storied A1A Ale Works closed at 1 King St
Bartram Trail114 PHOTOSFletcher's Jasmine Cross (1) scores a game-tying touchdown against Fleming Island's Mattie Cunningham (5) during the fourth quarter of an FHSAA District 3-3A semifinal high school flag football matchup Wednesday
2025 at Ponte Vedra High School in Ponte Vedra Beach
Fletcher rallied in the second half to defeat Fleming Island 13-12
can’t score a point after try as Fletcher's Racheal McCroy (6)
make the stop during the second quarter of an FHSAA District 3-3A semifinal high school flag football matchup Wednesday
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said it was investigating a deputy-involved shooting in Fleming Island.
The sheriff’s office said the shooting happened Tuesday afternoon at the Cobblestone at Eagle Harbor condo complex off CR-220, not far from Highway 17.
Investigators said the deputies responded after they received a call from a relative about a suicidal woman around 4:15 p.m.
“When the deputies pulled into the parking lot and got out of their vehicles, a woman approached them pretty quickly with a gun in her hand. Two deputies shot the woman,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said.
Cook said that before the deputies arrived, they were informed of the woman’s intentions, but they never got a chance to reason with her because she acted so quickly in a threatening manner to the deputies.
“We strive to de-escalate,” Cook said. ”We strive to bring the person down and get them the help they need, but unfortunately, in this case, because of the way she was holding the gun and walking towards the deputies, they really had no other option.”
CCSO said a suspect was taken to a local hospital, and the deputy was not injured.
If you or anyone you know has suicidal thoughts, help is just a phone call away. Reach out to 988 for help.
Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience.
FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – A Fleming Island Winn Dixie is set to close its doors on Sunday as part of the grocery chain’s acquisition by Aldi in 2023.
The store off County Road 220 will soon undergo renovations to become one of Aldi’s grocery stores, a change that has drawn mixed reactions from local residents.
For shoppers like Beth Spinu, the transition was welcomed.
“It would be actually easier for us because we live here in Fleming Island,” Spinu said, noting the new Aldi location will save her a trip to the nearest Aldi on Blanding Boulevard.
She pointed to Aldi’s affordability and specialty items as key advantages. She also praised Aldi’s bread and fruit for being high quality and inexpensive.
Others, like Christy Williams, weren’t as enthusiastic, saying she would not make the trip to shop at Aldi.
Some shoppers, like Marnie Buchanan, fall somewhere in between.
“I’ve shopped Aldi’s before, so I’ll go to it again, and it’ll be close, but I’m going to miss my Winn-Dixie,” she said.
To see how the stores compare, News4JAX priced grocery staples at both Aldi and Winn-Dixie. Here’s the breakdown:
While Aldi consistently offered lower prices on most items, Winn-Dixie’s potatoes were slightly cheaper.
News4JAX reached out to Aldi for a timeline on when the store will reopen as an Aldi.
This was the response we received from an Aldi spokesperson:
Thanks for reaching out! We’re converting some Winn-Dixie stores to the ALDI format to better support the communities we serve. Customers can expect a quick, easy shopping experience with great products at the lowest possible prices. Our smaller stores are stocked with only the items customers need so they can get in and out, and our award-winning exclusive brands help shoppers save up to 40% on their groceries without sacrificing quality.
We can confirm the Winn-Dixie store located at 1545 County Road 220 will close for renovations this month. The store will reopen to the community as an ALDI over the next several months.
While this store is temporarily closed, we continue to proudly serve the residents of the Jacksonville area at our other area stores. We thank our customers for their years of loyalty at this location and look forward to seeing them soon as a new ALDI.
Ariel Schiller joined the News4Jax team as an evening reporter in September of 2023. She comes to Jacksonville from Tallahassee where she worked at ABC27 as a Weekend Anchor/Reporter for 10 months.
This website is unavailable in your location
It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States
therefore access cannot be granted at this time
Three months after agreeing to a new contract with workers at its Fleming Island facility
said it is eliminating 135 customer service positions at the site
The communications company said in a letter to the Florida Department of Commerce under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act that the workers at the site at 2000 Town Center Blvd
in Orange Park have 60 days to seek another position in the company
If they have not obtained another position by Feb
Read the rest of this story at the Jacksonville Daily Record
By Aaron Farrar - News4Jax
The city will have a public meeting to discuss the cleanup of Lonnie C
try this one one for size: the Golden Eagles more than doubled that margin
overwhelming American Heritage Palm Beach by 38 shots at 6-over-par 582
Fleming Island's margin of victory was the third-highest in state history
Sanford Seminole beat Coral Gables by 43 shots in 1976 and American Heritage Plantation topped Bolles and Ponte Vedra by 39 shots in 2014
The Golden Eagles were the first Clay County school to win a state golf title last year and this year became the first golf team in school history to sweep the district
"They were on a mission from the beginning of the season," coach Bruce Cloud said
"We wanted to win our own tournament [the Randy Warren Invitational] and win the Qdobe [Tournament of Champions] and we did that
Winning the district and regional was nice but they weren't going to be happy unless they finished it off with the state title."
Sadaly Campbell of Fernandina wins girls titleIn the 2A girls tournament at the Mission Inn Las Colinas Course
Fernandina Beach senior Sadaly Campbell parred the first playoff hole against Dariano Breto of the SLAM Academy to win the individual state championship
Campbell (71) overcame four bogeys among her first five holes to play a clean round over her final 13 holes
18 on a 10-footer to earn a spot in the playoff when Breto bogeyed the last
Both players hit the fairway on the playoff hole at the par-4 first and Campbell knocked her second shot to within 10 feet
chipped past the hole and missed a par attempt
Campbell is the fourth individual girls state champion from the First Coast in FHSAA history
The last state champion was Nicolette Donovan of Ponte Vedra in the 2013 Class 2A state tournament
Kelly Trent of Westside (1978) and Tamara Bowman of Parker (1968) won state titles in open classifications
sophomore Elle Reisner (72) tied for third at 6-over and Lily Chiang of Stanton (71) tied for seventh at 8-over
Stanton finished 10th in the team standings and Fernandina 15th
South Walton Santa Rosa won the team title by one shot over SLAM
got off a shaky start with a double bogey at No
playing his next five holes at 5-under capped by an 8-foot putt for eagle at No
who had one bogey in firing a 66 to win by four shots at 10-under 134
Mawhinney (70) bogeyed the last and finished 6-under
"When Tyler struggles he usually finds a way to right the ship," Cloud said
"He's going to come back and do what Tyler does."
Eagles had balance through the lineupMawhinney had plenty of help from his teammates
Every Fleming Island player finished among the top 25
with Emmet Kuhlenkamp (77) tying for fifth at 2-over
Dylan Frein (70) tying for 16th at 11-over and Carson Moore (82) tying for 25th at 14-over
Frein knocked 15 shots off his first-round 85 and birdied five of seven holes in the middle of his round
"The guys and I talked to Dylan last night and wanted to make sure he was okay," Cloud said
This story was updated with new information and photos
A woman was hospitalized after a deputy-involved shooting Tuesday afternoon
Sheriff Michelle Cook confirmed during a press conference
Cook said deputies received a call around 4:15 p.m
specifically "suicide by law enforcement."
Cook said the woman's family member called 911
Deputies responded to the Cobblestone at Eagle Harbor condo complex in the 1700 block of County Road 220 and were approached by a woman holding a gun
called in shots fired and rendered aid to her until she was taken to the hospital by first responders
The woman's current condition was not immediately available
"When somebody does articulate that somebody wants to die by 'suicide by law enforcement,' of course your adrenaline starts pumping," Cook said
we strive to bring the person down and get them the help they need
because of the way that she was holding the gun and walking toward the deputies
Cook said it did not appear the woman fired any shots
Cook said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an investigation into the shooting
and the State Attorney's Office will be notified
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts can reach the suicide prevention lifeline 24/7 by calling or texting 988
Kids and teens can call the Wolfson Children's Hospital free mental health hotline at any time at 904-202-7900
or text the word "Life" to 741-741 and a counselor will text you back
This story was first published by First Coast News
(This story was updated to include new information.)
FLEMING ISLAND
– Would you consider yourself a truck enthusiast
Have you ever wished you could sound the siren on a police car
you’re in luck because AAA is hosting its Touch-A-Truck Fun Fest in Fleming Island
families will get to explore emergency and service vehicles
The following vehicles are scheduled to appear:
they may have to leave in the event of an emergency
The event is free and AAA membership is not required
Meet the local heroes who help keep our community safe
Plus talk with AAA agents about the benefits of membership
The Florida High School Hoops welcomes Fleming Island
the third-ranked 5A boys basketball team in the FHSAA
They're currently 15-5 with a signature win over the Andrew Jackson
The Eagles are home to two of the state's best 2027 prospects in Carson Crawford and Ayden Greenidge
They break down their love for the game and give one of the best halftime pranks of the season
Head Coach Trey Chandler tells the secret to Fleming Island's success through 20 games
We also get some insights on his transition for scoring buckets from beyond the three point line to guiding teams to the state final four runs in search of his team's first basketball state championship
According to the CCSO, deputies received a call from Heather Tipton’s friend, who told deputies that Tipton was suicidal and had threatened suicide by law enforcement.
The friend said Tipton was on Facetime with her, holding a gun as she made the threats.
Deputies Tyler Elias and Justin Mosley responded to the Cobblestone at Eagle Harbor condo complex off CR-220 in Fleming Island around 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
CCSO said Tipton came from around the corner of her apartment building with a gun in one hand and a cell phone in the other.
The deputies told her to drop the gun, but they said she did not comply and continued to walk toward them.
Then, Tipton raised the gun toward the deputies, causing Elias and Mosley to shoot her.
Tipton was taken to the hospital. The sheriff’s office said she remained in critical condition on Wednesday but was stable.
Elias had worked for CCSO for three-and-a-half years, and Mosley has worked for them for four years.
Proud alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University.
Extended Search
Columbia shortstop Trayce McKenzie turns off first base after a base hit against Flagler Palm Coast on April 4
Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription
Read Lake City Reporter
A jury in Washington has convicted a Fleming Island man of destroying government property as part of a crowd that broke open a door at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot there
Marcus Smith, 47, faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years behind bars because the price of the damage exceeded $1,000
The door in the Capitol Senate Wing dated from the 1850s and replacing it was estimated to cost about $21,000, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington said in a release on the verdict
In August: Palatka man faces misdemeanor charges in U.S. Capitol riot, adding to list of Floridians
Smith, who was arrested in January, had argued unsuccessfully to have his trial moved to Jacksonville
contending a jury in Washington would be biased against anyone charged in the Capitol riot
which involved the legal definition of “parade” or “picket.”
supporters of former President Donald Trump overran the Capitol
which was closed to the public for both the Senate and House of Representative to certify the electoral results of the 2020 election
Attorney’s Office reported that Smith had traveled from Jacksonville with three other people to “have his voice heard,” and that on Jan
6 he came to the Capitol with a large group of rioters
Rioters smashed open an outside door and Smith entered about two minutes later
then headed down a hallway and found the passage blocked by a line of police keeping people out
Smith spotted several people throwing themselves against a door to Room S-131
striking the door with his shoulder several times until it broke open
Smith left the building after walking farther and finding the route block again by police
How to watch Florida high school playoff boys basketball: Fleming Island vs
12Data SkriveThere is an intriguing high school matchup in Orange Park
with Fleming Island High School hosting Lincoln High School
How to watch Lincoln vs. Fleming Island playoff high school boys basketballLincoln and Fleming Island will match up on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. ET. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network
The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country
Follow your favorite team and never miss a game
Watch Fleming Island vs. Lincoln on NFHS!
All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at www.NFHSnetwork.com and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU
CLAY COUNTY
– A 59-year-old Fleming Island man has won a $1 million prize from the $1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR Scratch-Off game
RELATED: Jacksonville man wins $1 million playing scratch-off game
The winner claimed his prize at the lottery’s headquarters in Tallahassee
where he chose to receive his winnings as a one-time
His winning ticket was purchased from Amoco Express Food Mart
Amoco Express Food Mart received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
Kelsey Bingham is a multiplatform journalist from Atlanta, Georgia. She joined the News4JAX team in 2024 and is thrilled to start her media career in the River City.
The Aldi grocery chain plans to convert the Winn-Dixie in Fleming Island to an Aldi store
one of the first to be identified in Greater Jacksonville
Clay County is considering Aldi’s request for a permit to remodel the Winn-Dixie at 1545 County Road 220 at a cost of $1.75 million
Aldi bought Winn-Dixie and Harveys grocery stores last year from Southeastern Grocers
Aldi has said it plans to convert some Winn-Dixies to Aldi
but the stores have not been publicly identified
An Aldi spokesperson told Jacksonville Today last month that the company would begin to convert about 50 stores this summer and complete them in 2025
A “meaningful amount” of Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores will remain as is
The Jacksonville Daily Record reported recently that the Harveys supermarket at 2261 Edgewood Ave
W may be the first in the Jacksonville area to convert
the city had received construction plans for a significant remodel of the Harveys building into an Aldi
Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois
By Casmira Harrison
Steve Atkins has been trying to work out a public-private partnership with the city to overhaul the three buildings at Laura
Scott Johnson
FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – After Fleming Island teen Chloe Walker was severely injured in a car accident
the community came together on Sunday to raise money to help with her recovery
in partnership with Fleming Island’s Brick Oven Pizzeria and Gastropub
All proceeds went toward her medical expenses
“It warms my heart a lot to see so many people come together for her,” Norma Taylor
RELATED: St. Johns County church raising money for teen left in critical condition after hit-and-run
Chloe was riding in a car with her friends when she was ejected and suffered severe injuries
but mentioned that her speech is slowly returning
“She’s made amazing strides don’t get me wrong
but she’s got a long road ahead of her,” Taylor said
The family is also collecting donations on GoFundMe
“We can’t thank everybody enough,” Taylor said. “There’s not enough thanks in the world that we could express or say that would cover that, but I promise you it’s there.”
Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.
Orange Park High School plays on the road versus Fleming Island High School
How to watch Orange Park vs. Fleming Island playoff high school boys basketballOrange Park and Fleming Island will face off on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network
Watch Fleming Island vs. Orange Park on NFHS!
it was a weekend of history makers and record breakers
Middleburg hoisted the Class 2A traditional team championship, Fleming Island won a share of the Olympic lifting title and Clay's Emma Heck concluded an extraordinary high school career with another state record at the Florida High School Athletic Association girls weightlifting championships in Lakeland
Heck concluded her senior season as the first Northeast Florida lifter in FHSAA girls records to win four consecutive state championships while representing the same school
she easily won in traditional with lifts of 405
Her 410-pound total in the Olympic category was equal to the winning figure in the Unlimited class
Already a double record-holder in her previous 129-pound division
Heck set the state 139-pound record Friday with a 185-pound snatch
Fleming Island finished in a tie with Leesburg in the Class 2A Olympic lifts
Bradi Johnson led the Golden Eagles' effort
winning the 119-pound division in both traditional (330 pounds in total lifts) and Olympic (315 pounds) events
while Lily O'Steen placed second at 199 pounds
The Broncos got high finishes from Ash Piniero (second at 101 pounds)
Emily Herren (third at 129 pounds) and Caylee Johnson(second at 154 pounds)
Johns County schools also earned an individual first place: Menendez's Elle Bays won the Class 2A 169-pound titles in both traditional (395) and Olympic (415) pounds
and Bartram Trail's Ava Myers won the Class 3A Olympic lift at 129 pounds with a 330-pound total
Pace won the team standings in both traditional and Olympic lifts for Class 3A
Fleming Island Golf coach Bruce Cloud knew he had a good team this season, especially with four starters returning from the Class 3A state championship of 2023, a title they won by a whopping 17 strokes at the Mission Inn Resort El Campeon Course
Cloud got his answer at last month’s Qdobe Tournament of Champions at the Providence Golf Club in Davenport
The Golden Eagles trailed Palm Beach Benjamin, the state’s top-ranked team in all classes, by five shots with nine holes to play, and turned it into a six-shot victory as No. 1 player Tyler Mawhinney closed with a 69 for a two-round total of 5-under 139 to win the individual title
last year’s Class 2A state champion and six other teams that finished second or third in 2023 state tournaments
“We’ve shown that we’re a deep team all year,” Cloud said
As much as any tournament victory this season
that proved to Cloud that he had the team more than capable of adding a Class 2A state title to the school’s trophy case
15-16 at Mission Inn when the FHSAA Class 2A state tournament is played
two courses six state championshipsEight days of championship high school golf begin Nov
Boys will play at El Campeon and girls at the Las Colinas Course
Ponte Vedra’s boys will be chasing an eighth state championship in a row (in two classifications) and their 10th overall and the Beachside girls will trying to add a 3A state title to their 2A crown last year
the first state championship in any sport in the school’s brief history
Golden Eagles go five-deep in the lineupOn paper
the Golden Eagles are third overall in the state
and are first in Class 2A by a wide margin over the two American Heritage teams from Broward and Plantation
Fleming Island won the District 4-2A title by 31 shots and the Region 1-2A championship by 13
They have won four of their last five post-season tournaments (they finished third in Region 1-3A last year and reached the state as an at-large team) by an average of 23.5 shots
Emmet Kuhlenkamp beat Mawhinney for the district individual title with a 68 (despite a double bogey on the first hole at Eagle Harbor) and all five players in the lineup are 14th or higher on the Class 2A individual rankings: Mawhinney (1st)
“Tyler is definitely the main guy but we’ve got other guys stepping up,” Cloud said
Cloud said the team has also set a lofty goal
Winning another state title is foremost on their minds but they’ve got the state scoring record in their sights
8-under-par 568 by Lake Mary in the 2006 Class 2A state tournament
the lowest team score since Tallahassee Chiles shot 582 in the 2019 3A tournament
“They got together and made that their goal,” Cloud said
“But they’d be happy with another state title by any score.”
Area boys team: Bolles (Luke Balaskiewicz
Notable: Bolles will be battling the usual collection of other private schools
charter schools and virtual teams in perhaps the state's deepest classification
Palm Beach Benjamin is the top-ranked boys team in the state regardless of class and the girls tournament includes the top-five teams in all classes
The Bolles boys are ranked eighth in Class 1A and the girls ninth
Balaskiewicz is ranked 17th overall and seventh in Class 1A
15-16 Area boys team: Fleming Island (Tyler Mawhinney
Notable: It won’t be any easier for Fleming Island with the two American Heritage teams
Stanton will have an uphill battle in the girls tournament
Area boys teams: Ponte Vedra (Jack Chung
Notable: Ponte Vedra’s path to an eighth state title in a row could be blocked by Jupiter and Lakewood Ranch but the Sharks’ depth has proven formidable during their decade-long run
All five of their starters are inside the top-40 on the state 3A individual rankings
The Beachside girls' quest for a second state title will have to get past perennial contender Lake Mary
JACKSONVILLE
– Fleming Island’s football team is changing head coaches
an abrupt shift at the top of the program with just two weeks to go before the season kicks off
The Golden Eagles replaced Chad Parker with Derek Chipoletti on Wednesday afternoon, according to a report from the Clay Today. The paper cited school principal Thomas Pittman who said the Clay County School District was investigating the situation that led to Parker not being the team’s head coach any longer.
News4JAX comfirmed the Clay Today report with two separate sources saying that Parker had been removed and that Chipoletti was put in charge of the program Wednesday at 2 p.m. In a text Wednesday afternoon with News4JAX, Parker said he had not resigned. He was with the Golden Eagles football team a week ago at high school media day at EverBank Stadium.
The departure comes after Parker led Fleming Island to a 3-7 record in 2023. Parker was hired for the head coaching role at Wolfson in 2017, but he wound up never coaching a game and returned to his assistant coaching role at Bartram Trail. He spent nine seasons with the Bears under coach Darrell Sutherland.
Chipoletti is a name area fans should know well. His father, Neal, started the program at Fleming Island. Derek got his head coaching career going at Williston and Bradford before going to Oakleaf. He had a career-best 12-1 season in 2014, a year that ended with a run to the regional finals. Chipoletti stepped away from head coaching in 2016 and got into the private sector.
Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.
Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.
Chad Parker is out as Fleming Island head coach after one season, the school confirmed Thursday, making the move only one week into preseason practice for Florida high school football.
The athletic department is installing defensive coordinator Derek Chipoletti in Parker's place as interim coach
Fleming Island athletic director Travis Cunningham confirmed the moves to the Times-Union on Thursday. Clay Today initially reported Parker's exit late Wednesday night
Coach tracker: Meet every new Jacksonville high school football coach for 2024 FHSAA season
Cunningham told the Times-Union that Parker "resigned for personal reasons" and the school declined to specify additional details surrounding the abrupt change
which occurs just over one week before the Aug
16 Fleming Island kickoff classic against Westside
Phone messages for Parker as well as the office of Fleming Island principal Thomas Pittman had not been returned as of early Thursday afternoon
Many questions remain about the sudden move
less than one week after Parker and his players appeared at Baker's Sports/Jaguars Prep Media Day at EverBank Stadium
Cunningham acknowledged that the timing was "not optimal."
Parker had coached the Golden Eagles for one season
after a long tenure on Bartram Trail's staff under Darrell Sutherland
Parker also coached wrestling and took a significant role in coordinating the Bears' college recruiting
Cunningham said that Parker remains with Clay County District Schools
Chipoletti brings close family ties to the program
was the first head coach in Fleming Island history upon the school's opening for the 2003-04 school year
The elder Chipoletti coached the Golden Eagles from 2003 to 2008
Derek Chipoletti will be entering his 10th season of head coaching after prior stints at Williston (2009), Bradford (2010-11), Oakleaf (2012-15) and St. Johns Country Day (2018-19) with a career record of 50-41 and three playoff appearances
He led Oakleaf to its first-ever postseason appearance, and went 12-1 in 2014 while steering the Knights to a regional final
Oakleaf had won only one game in two years before his arrival
where he helped the Tornadoes end a playoff drought that had stretched for more than half a decade
Chipoletti played high school football at Orange Park under Bob Williams in the early 1990s
He becomes the sixth head coach in program history
Fleming Island's move adds to a coaching carousel that has seen more than a dozen Northeast Florida positions change hands since the end of the 2023 regular season
Fleming Island enters the season in a newly-reconstructed district alongside Beachside
The Golden Eagles begin the regular season on Aug
2009: Williston 0-11 (7-4 before forfeits)
therefore access cannot be granted at this time.