Fort Myers High Football Coach Sam Sirianni Jr. Retires After 40 Years

Sam Sirianni Jr. stepped down from Fort Myers High School on Nov. 14, 2025. His 40-year run with the football program included 24 seasons as head coach. The 61-year-old walked away with a 175-81 record and a 68% winning percentage.

This retirement ends a multi-generational family legacy that spanned over six decades. Sam Sirianni Sr., father of Sam Sirianni Jr., began coaching the Greenwave in 1959 and held the top position for 33 years. Father and son remain the only pair in program history with more than 100 victories each at one school.

The FHSAA Hall of Fame inducted Sam Sirianni Sr. in 2010. He died in October 2002.

Frank Sirianni Sr., uncle to Sam Sirianni Jr., also contributed to the program. He spent 41 years as the team's defensive coach. Some call the family the "first family of football."

"Coach Sammy is more than a coach — he's a mentor, a role model, and a cornerstone of our athletic community," said Fort Myers High School Athletic Director Steve Cato in an email to staff, according to Gulf Coast News. "His influence will continue to be felt for years to come."

During his tenure, the head coach steered the team to awards, championships, and postseason wins. He taught classes at the school as well.

"Coach Sammy's career has been defined by passion, integrity, and a deep love for the game," Cato said in the email. "Under his leadership, the Greenies have accomplished numerous milestones, including awards, championships, and postseason victories, but his true legacy lies in the countless young men whose lives he shaped both on and off the field."

This announcement arrived after decades of serving the school and its student-athletes. Cato described the impact on generations of players, colleagues, and the broader Fort Myers area as immeasurable.