🏈 What’s next for Bay County athletics?

On Episode 87 of the Inside Drive Podcast, Ryan Mulvey sits down with Bay County Athletic Director Josh Laatsch for an in-depth look at the past, present, and future of middle and high school sports across Bay County, Florida.

Josh breaks down the progress made during the 2025–26 school year and what athletes, parents, coaches, and fans can expect heading into the 2026–27 athletic season.We discuss:

🏆 Success across Bay County athletics and four football programs reaching the playoffs
🏐 Continued growth of girls flag football and beach volleyball
🏃 Growth in middle and high school athletic participation
📚 Student-athlete academics and the district’s GPA competitions
🏟️ New turf projects and future upgrades to locker rooms, weight rooms, and athletic facilities
🏈 Recruiting, eligibility and compliance changes
📋 How Florida Senate Bill 538 could impact student-athlete eligibility
👨‍🏫 Recruiting and retaining quality coaches throughout Bay County
❤️ The impact coaches have on student-athletes beyond wins and losses
🔮 Josh’s vision for the continued growth of Bay County sportsJosh also shares how more than 3,300 student-athletes participated in middle and high school sports across Bay County and why creating great experiences for those athletes remains one of the district’s biggest priorities.If you follow Bay County high school football, volleyball, flag football, beach volleyball, middle school athletics, or local sports in Panama City and Panama City Beach, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.🎙️ Inside Drive Podcast – Episode 87
Hosted by Ryan MulveyThank you to the sponsors who make the Inside Drive Podcast possible:• Beach House Sales & Development – Studio Sponsor
• Juice & Sunsets – Official Juice of Inside Drive
• American Charlie Grill & Tavern – Athlete of the Week Sponsor
• Golf Plus
• The Back Nine PCB
• Panhandle Credit Union

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