Former Florida State Standout rejoins Columbia High School as Head Coach

Columbia High School has been one of the top programs in the state of Florida over the past decade. The Tigers have developed into a perennial winner and playoff contender that routinely sends talent to the next level.

Much of that success can be attributed to former Florida State standout Brian Allen, who led Columbia from 2011-20. Allen stepped down from the position ahead of the 2021 season due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and his family - he has an immunocompromised young daughter, according to News4Jax.

After two years away from the program, Columbia announced his return on Tuesday evening. Allen replaces Demetric Jackson Sr., who played his college ball at the University of Florida.

During his first stint with the Tigers, Allen compiled an 86-33 record and led the team to a state semifinal run in 2015. In his final season before officially stepping down, Allen missed the first half of the 2020 season due to the pandemic. He came back after the team started 0-5 and compiled a five-game winning streak to make the postseason. The 5-6 overall record was the worst mark of his career as a high school coach but Columbia made the playoffs in all ten of his seasons at the helm.

He's coached a plethora of players that went on to play at the college and NFL levels including Laremy Tunsel (Ole Miss, Miami Dolphins) and Trey Marshall (FSU, Denver). FSU redshirt sophomore safety Shyheim Brown played for Allen in High School while four-star wide receiver and legacy commitment, Camdon Frier, is currently on Columbia's roster.

The program is coming off a state semifinal appearance and finished 9-4 in 2022.

The Florida native spent five years as a linebacker at Florida State from 1996-2000. He developed into a starter during his final two seasons with the Seminoles and was a member of the team that defeated Virginia Tech in the National Championship in 1999.

In total, he appeared in 45 games, with 25 starts, recording 286 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 16 pass breakups.

Following his college career, Allen was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He was allocated to the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL Expansion Draft but the team released him for he played a game. The Carolina Panthers signed him off waivers in 2022, where he played mostly on special teams. He joined Washington in 2005 but was released after suffering a knee injury.

Allen has recorded four campaigns of ten wins or more during his career as a head coach.

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