Josh Abell announced Monday he has stepped down after 12 seasons as the head football coach at Fern Creek High School.
Abell compiled a 79-58 record at Fern Creek. His 2015 and 2016 teams reached the state semifinals of the Class 5A playoffs. The Tigers moved to Class 6A in 2019.
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“It just feels like it’s the right time,” said Abell, whose Tigers finished 4-7 in 2025. “I’m proud that we’ve built a program where the next guy can just coach ball. … Twelve years is a lifetime in (Jefferson County Public Schools), so I’m proud that we’ve done that.”
Fern Creek head coah Josh Abell praised his team after the Tigers defeated the Oldham County Colonels 16-7 in the first round of the KHSAA football playoffs at Fern Creek Veterans Stadium on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.
Abell, 39, is a 2004 graduate of Manual and played football at Kentucky Wesleyan. He was an assistant at Manual (2008-10) and Fern Creek (2011-13) before being named the Tigers’ head coach in 2014.
Abell wouldn’t rule out coaching again.
“The time away is going to let me know what I want to do, whether administration is in my future or if I get the itch to coach again,” Abell said. “I’m going to lean toward (coaching) probably won’t happen again, but I’m not going to shut it off. I love coaching.”
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Fern Creek is one of 10 JCPS programs that will have new head football coaches in 2026, joining Central, Doss, Iroquois, Jeffersontown, Male, Moore, Pleasure Ridge Park, Valley and Waggener.
Central (Mekale McKay), Male (Chase Porter), Moore (Marcus Harris), PRP (Keith May) and Valley (Jamon Brown) have named new coaches.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fern Creek High School football head coach Josh Abell steps down
