- Cornelius Ingram resigned as Hawthorne football head coach after 11 seasons and over 100 career victories.
- Ingram led Hawthorne to three state titles in four years and a 104-22 record with six straight state title game appearances.
- He won his 100th career game on Oct 24, 2025, and guided Hawthorne to back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023.
- Ingram's name has been linked to the Bradford High School coaching opening after Jamie Rodgers left for Baker County.
Head coach Cornelius Ingram has decided to step away from the Hawthorne football program, according to multiple sources.
After 100 career victories, 11 seasons, and multiple state championships, Ingram will no longer lead the Hornets.
John Patton first reported the move on X (Twitter) after reaching out to Ingram on Tuesday night.
Ingram’s name has also been linked to the opening at Bradford High School (Starke). That position became available when Tornadoes head coach Jamie Rodgers stepped down on Jan. 6, then accepted the head coaching job at Baker County (Glen St. Mary).
On Thursday night in Trenton, the Gainesville Sun’s Noah Ram confirmed the news that Ingram, the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Rural Coach of the Year, stepped down as Hawthorne football head coach.
Ingram was in Trenton to watch his son, Kyler, a senior on the Hawthorne boys basketball team, play against the host Tigers.
The Hawthorne vs. Trenton game was broadcast online at Mainstreet Daily News. Prior to the game, Mainstreet color commentator Mac McCray spoke with Ingram.
“He (Ingram) just said he had stepped down and there has been no decision as to what’s next,” McCray said.
Mainstreet has reached out to Ingram via text for additional comment.
According to Patton, Ingram told his team on Tuesday that he was leaving.
The Hawthorne alum led the Hornets (11-1) to the FHSAA Rural state title this past December with a 24-8 win against Blountstown. It was their third state title in the past four years under Ingram.
On Oct. 24, Ingram won his 100th career game, a 34-16 win at Melbourne Central Catholic in the regular season finale.
Two years ago, Ingram reached a milestone with his 10th season as head coach.
In 2023, Hawthorne became the first Alachua County football team to win back-to-back state titles.
In 11 years at the school, Ingram compiled a 104-22 record, three state titles, three state runner-up finishes and six consecutive state title game appearances.
Last summer, Ingram also stepped down as head coach of the girls basketball program after eight seasons, where he led the Lady Hornets to three state championships.