Head Football Coach Scott Perry of Lake Mary High School

This Focus Story was generously donated by BCG Private Wealth Management

by George Diaz

The term lifer can often be misconstrued as a lack of ambition or fear of change. Yet the word can also signify deep loyalty, commitment, and stability.

Scott Perry is a proud lifer at Lake Mary High School, in the best possible way. His first year on campus goes back to 1988, when he was a student and football player there. After graduation, he earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and a master’s degree at the University of Central Florida, before moving on to coaching stints in Jacksonville and at Princeton University.

In 2001, Scott returned to his high-school alma mater when he was offered a position as a social studies teacher. He also joined the Rams football staff as a defensive line coach, becoming head coach in 2005. He is still at Lake Mary. And doing quite well.

In December, the Rams won the Class 7A state football championship – for the first time ever. The celebration continued for Scott after he was named the Florida Dairy Farmers coach of the year for the 2025 season.

Big Man on Campus

“I love the community. I love the school,” says Scott, reflecting on his tenure while sitting in an office filled with awards, plaques, and trophies. “My wife and I were talking about my college and high-school days, and she asked me if I liked high school. Well, I loved it enough to go back and work there every day.”

Now at age 52, Scott is preparing for his 22nd season as head coach with a mix of new and established players. Others will be missed, including former star quarterback Noah Grubbs, now at the University of Notre Dame.

But Scott and the Lake Mary gang should be just fine. As the longest-serving head coach in Seminole County football history, he also holds the all-time victory record in the county with a 152-82 career record. 

The Rams have become a dominant, must-watch team – especially after last season’s championship game, with an ending featured on countless sports highlight reels, including ESPN’s. As time expired, Noah threw a Hail Mary pass in a driving rainstorm, resulting in a completion, and then a lateral to tie the score. Lucas Parker booted the extra point for the winning margin, 28-27.

“That was nuts,” says Scott.

Still feeling the adrenaline rush from the win, he and his team hopped on a bus for a four-hour ride from Miami back home to Lake Mary. 

“I was wired the whole time,” says Scott. “We got back about 5:00 a.m. I slept for about four or five hours and then answered texts and emails.”

Learn Your Lessons Well

It may be hard to recapture that type of magic this season, but the team remains in good hands under Scott’s steady leadership. All coaches have their own style of leadership and discipline, and Scott is no exception. He can be tough on his players but also raises them up when times are difficult.

Former Rams wide receiver Johnny Rogers, who played at Lake Mary from 2006-2009, still stays in touch with Scott. Now a first vice president and advisor with BCG Private Wealth Management in Lake Mary, Johnny says the lessons Coach Perry taught have served him well.

“One of the things you learn through sports is discipline and working through all the different hurdles,” says Johnny. “I’ve taken that through my life and career.”

At Lake Mary High School, Scott is a lifer who got it right from the get-go.

“I wanted to find someplace, get established, work hard, and hopefully develop and build something,” he says.

Scott has done just that, with more still to come.