Hector Clavijo III is out as Santaluces' head football coach.
Overshadowed by last week's controversy surrounding Clavijo III's appearance at a Santaluces football game while suspended, and the school's dismissal of its sixth athletic director in six years, was the coach's quiet resignation following the denial of his appeal to the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Clavijo III was five months into a year-long suspension for violating athletic bylaws and district policies after he accepted at least 5,000 in payment for acting as an unlicensed agent coordinating an NIL deal for his own student-athlete.
The coach appealed the suspension last week, but the FHSAA upheld its original ruling.
After the appeal was denied, Clavijo III removed the "head football coach" designation from his social media profiles. On Monday, Sept. 28, he confirmed to The Palm Beach Post that his tenure at Santaluces had ended.
"I resigned from Santaluces as the head coach last week, an hour after my appeal was denied," Clavijo III said.
Clavijo III spent four seasons leading the Chiefs, compiling a 30-14 record. He was hired in December 2022 after a successful run at Champagnat Catholic that included three state championships, arriving with ambitious plans to elevate the Santaluces program.
Those ambitions appeared within reach early. After inheriting a team that went 1-8 the previous season, Clavijo III guided the Chiefs to an 8-3 record in his first year.
Santaluces posted a winning record in each of his four seasons, though the Chiefs never advanced beyond the regional semifinal round despite consistently producing Division I talent.
Clavijo III has repeatedly described the last five months as "a witch hunt" and indicated his coaching career may be over.
"I will more than likely not continue to coach football, especially in Palm Beach County," Clavijo III said. "My plans are to move forward in the private sector, something along the lines of sports."
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Santaluces football coach Hector Clavijo resigns after appeal loss
