LAKE BUTLER, Fla. (WCJB) – The paper trail has run cold in the mysterious firing of a successful high school football coach in Union County.

In an effort to understand why Union County Superintendent Mike Ripplinger fired Andrew Thomas, the head coach and athletic director, which sparked community outrage, TV20 put a public records request in for any documents or written communications about the firing.

None of the emails provided to TV20 note any concerns between the coach and the superintendent. His personnel file has no documented issues. We didn’t receive his most recent performance review.

When pressed for an explanation, Ripplinger told TV20 that parents expressed concerns about the coach verbally. Those alleged complaints weren’t documented before his firing.

“I’m not gonna apologize for running a well-organized, disciplined program that holds kids accountable on and off the field, and it’s not popular with all parents these days!” Thomas told TV20.

Now, the former coach says he’s exploring his legal options regarding the termination. He maintains he was fired because the superintendent doesn’t like him personally.

Thomas’ teams never had a losing season and made it to the state semifinals twice in 2022 and 2024. Union County averaged over nine wins per season under his leadership.