Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Teddy Bridgewater Act into law Friday, letting high school coaches spend personal funds on player expenses like food, transportation and physical therapy. The bill passed both chambers unanimously after Bridgewater's suspension for spending roughly $6,000 weekly on meals and rides for disadvantaged Miami Northwestern players drew national attention.

Bridgewater coached his alma mater to a state championship in 2024 before being suspended for 2025. The new law caps coach spending at $15,000 per team per year, applies only to head coaches, bans recruiting use and requires full reporting to a state agency. DeSantis said the previous rules were too restrictive for coaches wanting to help players in need.

DeSantis also signed a salary bill letting school boards use donations and booster revenues to pay coaches. Head football coaches in talent-rich Broward County averaged just $3,038, while counterparts in Georgia earned over $100,000. Andrew Ramjit of the Florida Coaches Coalition called the law a validation for coaches long treated as afterthoughts in public schools.