High School

Mount Dora High's New Head Football Coach Fired After Arrest for Child Solicitation

Colby Erskin was taken into custody in Seminole County on Feb. 5

Jeff Gardenour

Mount Dora High School will be looking for a new football coach for the second time in a month after Colby Erskin was arrested in Sanford on Feb. 5 for an active warrant in South Florida.
Mount Dora High School will be looking for a new football coach for the second time in a month after Colby Erskin was arrested in Sanford on Feb. 5 for an active warrant in South Florida. / Lake and Sumter Style Magazine

Mount Dora High School will be looking for a head football coach for the second time in a month after newly hired Colby Erskin was arrested for an active warrant out of Broward County.

Colby Erskin Jailed in Sanford for Alleged Solicitation of Child

Erskin, 39, was taken into custody by Seminole County deputies and jailed in Sanford for solicitation of a child and transmission of harmful material to minors, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and reports by WESH Channel 2 News and WKMG Channel 6 in Orlando.

Colby Erskin - Mount Dora High School football
Mount Dora High football coach Colby Erskin was arrested by Seminole County deputies on Feb. 5 for an active warrant in South Florida for solicitation of a child and transmission of harmful materials to minors. / Lake and Sumter Style Magazine

Erskin Previoulsy Taught And Coached Football at South Plantation

The Lake County School district promptly dismissed Erskin, a former South Plantation High math teacher and football coach, per NBC 6 South Florida.

“Mr. Erskin, who was hired less than a month ago as our football coach, was dismissed from his position (Feb. 5) after we learned that he had been arrested on a South Florida warrant for allegations that do not involve any of our students,” per a statement by Lake County Schools that was provided to Lake and Sumter Style.com.

“We are cooperating with law enforcement and encourage anyone to come forward if you have anything to share regarding Mr. Erskin.”

Erskin Was Introduced as Mount Dora's New Head Coach in January

Erskin met the Mount Dora community as the Hurricanes’ new head football coach during a meet-and-greet on Jan. 15, per Lake and Sumter Style.

The former South Florida teacher was hired by Lake County Schools to replace Luke Hutchinson as head football coach. Hutchinson was popular in Mount Dora, leading the Hurricanes to three winning seasons, a playoff berth and a 23-18 record in four seasons. He recently was named Program Director for South Lake High School’s football team.

Jeff Gardenour can be reached via email at jgardenour1962@gmail.com or X @JMarkG1962

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Jeff Gardenour
JEFF GARDENOUR

Jeff Gardenour is a Florida native and long-time resident of the Sunshine State. He is a journalism veteran of more than four decades, having worked in a number of news divisions through the years for multiple media outlets, including Gannett and Tribune Company. A University of Florida journalism graduate, Jeff has covered every level of sports, including MLB, USFL, XFL, WNBA, NCAA, IMSA, high schools and more. He is a former award-winning sports editor of the Sebring News-Sun and current freelance writer for SBLive Sports, PrepVolleyball.com and The Orlando Sentinel. Jeff is married with two children and resides in Oviedo, FL. He can be reached at jgardenour1962@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JMarkG1962.

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