Middleton, Fla. – The Villages High School athletics department announced Austin Downey as its next girls soccer head coach Friday in Middleton.

Downey previously served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo in each of the past five seasons and will make his head coaching debut next winter at VHS. He takes over for Brian Rausch, who stepped aside last month for personal reasons.

"We are excited for Coach Downey to take over the reins of our girls soccer program," said VHS athletic director Richard Pettus. "He has been an outstanding assistant coach over the past five years under Brian Rausch. I know he will continue the success and take our program to another level."

A graduate of Florida State University, Downey currently serves as a physical education teacher at The Villages Charter Middle School in Middleton.

"This is an incredible opportunity and I'm truly honored," Downey said. "Especially at a school like The Villages, which has tremendous support from its administration, talented student-athletes and support from our community. I'm excited for this program to reach new heights."

Downey helped lead VHS to three district championships (2022, 2023, 2024) and five FHSAA postseason appearances during his tenure as an assistant coach under Rausch. VHS also won a playoff game and advanced to the regional semifinals in both 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Among his other stops in a coaching capacity, Downey served as an assistant at Leesburg High School during the 2014-15 campaigns and more recently as a coach within the Brave SC developmental program.

"I really want to emphasize commitment, passion, intensity and just being competitive every single day," Downey said. "We're out to win, of course, but we also want to develop good players and great young women. We want them to be the best version of themselves. If we do that, it's only going to help them on and off the field."


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org.