High school football: Coaches approaching 300 career wins
By Kevin Askeland
Aug 28, 2025, 11:00am
John McNeal of Friendship Christian could reach 300-win club this week.
The list of coaches with over 300 career wins in the
MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book has 344 names on it but by the end of the 2025 season, that number could grow to 359.
A total of 15 coaches are within striking distance of reaching 300 wins, the milestone that has long marked a coach's passage into legendary status.
One of those coaches could get the milestone win as early as this week. John McNeal of
Friendship Christian (Lebanon, Tenn.) opened the season last week with a 34-7 win over Trousdale County. That victory gives him 299 on his career after entering the campaign with a record of 298-130. The Commanders take on Fayetteville on Friday.
John McNeal has led Friendship Christian to four state titles in Tennessee. He also coaches the school's baseball team. (PHOTO: Jason Goode)
Dan McSurley of
Clinton-Massie (Clarksville, Ohio) begins the season with 298 wins, posting a career mark of 298-90 with the Falcons. McSurley goes for 299 on Friday against Coldwater.
Earl Garcia of
Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.) needs just four wins to become the ninth coach in Florida high school football history to win 300 or more games.
Matt Logan of
Centennial (Corona, Calif.) needs just five wins to become the 15th coach from California to win 300 games. Getting those five wins won't be easy. Centennial has already defeated Servite to start the season, but games against Santa Margarita and No. 1-ranked Mater Dei as well as a home game against Utah powerhouse Bingham loom over the next three weeks.
California and Alabama each have three coaches on the list. Robert Garrett of
Crenshaw (Los Angeles) and Roger Canepa of
Central Catholic (Modesto) join Logan from California. Steve Smith of
Westbrook Christian (Rainbow City), Dale Pruitt of
Plainview (Rainsville) and Trent Taylor of
Andalusia could join seven other Alabama coaches with over 300 wins.
Coaches approaching 300 wins296 — Earl Garcia,
Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.), 296-132
295 — Matt Logan,
Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 295-63
294 — Steve Smith,
Westbrook Christian (Rainbow City, Ala.), 294-90
292 — Mike Noll,
Richmond-Burton (Richmond, Ill.), 292-78
290 — Robert Garrett,
Crenshaw (Los Angeles, Calif.), 290-137-3
290 — Roger Canepa,
Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.), 290-76-1
290 — Jeff Weachter,
Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.), 290-109
290 — Tim Gushue,
Shawnee (Medford, N.J.), 290-147-6
287 — Dale Pruitt,
Plainview (Rainsville, Ala.), 287-147
286 — Terry Bahlman,
Marshall (Duluth, Minn.), 286-112
286 — Jerry Cooper,
Hardin Northern (Dola, Ohio), 286-181
285 — Jeff Reents,
Wilmington (Ill.), 285-65
284 — Trent Taylor,
Andalusia (Ala.), 284-154
