Mitch McDaniel steps down at St. Benedict following TSSAA forfeit ruling

The coach and athletic director resigned after the school was forced to forfeit three 2026 games over an ineligible player and fined $300.

St. Benedict at Auburndale is looking for new leadership after Mitch McDaniel resigned from his dual role as head football coach and athletic director. A letter from the school, obtained by The Commercial Appeal on Sept. 22, confirmed the decision.

The resignation follows a ruling by the TSSAA requiring the school to vacate its first three wins of the 2026 season because an ineligible athlete took the field. The governing body also imposed a $300 fine, barred the player from the next six varsity contests, and noted that the school had been informed of the athlete's status on Aug. 4 — more than two weeks ahead of the season opener. The Commercial Appeal reported it had received no reply after trying to contact McDaniel.

In the letter, Villacura praised McDaniel's energy and dedication, calling his rebuild of the football program transformative and crediting him and his staff with raising the team's competitiveness and creating growth opportunities for student-athletes.

McDaniel spent one full campaign leading the Eagles, posting a 4-6 mark in 2025. The team's on-field record stood at 1-4 through five weeks, and it remains 1-4 once the forfeits are applied.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Cobbs, who also serves as athletic director at St. Francis of Assisi in Cordova, takes over as interim coach for the rest of the season. St. Benedict opens Division II-AA region play against Northpoint Christian on Sept. 25.