Jeff Conaway comes to The First Academy aiming to take Royals football to a new level
ORLANDO, FLORIDA- Competing for state championships isn’t something The First Academy Royals have been in the serious conversation for on an annual basis in its program history.
The last 48 hours, however, has changed the course of how the Royals want to change that narrative about their football program as a whole.
Enter former Shiloh Christian head coach Jeff Conaway into the mix when it comes to the Sunshine State’s head coaching fraternity. Conaway told SBLive Sports Arkansas’ Nate Olsen on Monday that he would be accepting The First Academy’s head football coaching job.
Thing about that is Conaway isn’t coming to Orlando just to lead the Royals back into the playoffs. The experienced head coach/athletic director comes with state championship-type aspirations, even playing within a very competitive Class 1M.
Conaway has led the Saints to four straight state championship appearances, including winning the 2020 Class 4A title in Arkansas. Heading to the 407 with a record of 99-23 over the course of the last nine seasons at Shiloh Christian, it’s safe to say the Royals are now looking to compete at a whole new level.
The First Academy announced via Twitter that longtime head coach Leroy Kinard would be stepping down as the Royals’ lead man after 20 years with the school. Kinard compiled an overall record of 126-51, qualifying for the playoffs 13 times and winning five district championships.
Despite the success Kinard had at the school, Conaway brings a different feel coming from a football program in Arkansas that was used to competing for state titles. The Royals are coming off an 8-3 season in 2022, which ended with a 42-13 loss to University Christian in the Class 1M playoffs.
There’s plenty of solid building blocks that Conaway will be able to work with as well. One of them being senior Julian Anderson, who played primarily at defensive end for The First Academy last season. Anderson, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound edge rusher, recorded 56 tackles, 18.5 for a loss and 9.5 sacks in 2022.
A commitment to winning at the next level seems to be the new goal for the Royals, with Conaway also taking on an associate athletic director position before taking the job full-time after the football season. Conaway also comes from a lineage when it comes to head coaches from Shiloh Christian.
The Arkansas private school is where current University of Central Florida head coach Gus Malzahn really made a name for himself at. Malzahn coached the Saints from 1996-2000, winning two state championships along the way. Setting records in passing touchdowns and yardage, Malzahn helped revolutionize the game at Shiloh Christian.
Now Conaway and Malzahn will share the same area code in Orlando and the former will look to revolutionize the Royals’ football program that’s hoping to see dividends paying off sooner rather than later in Class 1M. The foundation is solid and Conaway aims plans on taking the Royals to places they’ve never been before.
“I don’t think they have achieved the kind of success they really want,” Conaway said about The First Academy football program’s aspirations. “There is a foundation that exists there that we can build on, and I think we can achieve some success they have never seen.”
“I didn’t know they existed two weeks ago. I think what is new is they have a new drive to be successful in football, so they are hiring me to be the football coach. Their commitment to me and my family just confirms they are serious. I want to be in a place that strives to win state championships, just like we are here at Shiloh.”
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.
