Rashad West steps down as head football coach at Palmetto: Report

West steps away after one season at the helm

PALMETTO, FLORIDA- Coming over from Lakewood Ranch to take over Palmetto seemed like a dream job for Rashad West. 

Coming to a storied program like the Tigers, it looked like a fresh start for West. 

After one season, West is stepping down as the head coach at Palmetto, according to a report by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Dennis Maffezzoli Thursday afternoon. West finished 2023 leading the Tigers to a 5-5 record, missing out on the postseason. 

“It was a tough decision but it was the right time and right decision for me,” West said in the report by Maffezzoli. “It was kinda the right time for me with this.”

It will be the second time in the last two off-seasons that Palmetto will be in search of a new head football coach. Dave Marino stepped away after the 2022 campaign and eventually landed up at Cardinal Mooney as an assistant, helping the Cougars win the 2023 Class 1S state championship. 

West coached at Lakewood Ranch for four seasons and compiled an overall record of 20-17 during his time with the Mustangs. 

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl