Tolbert named West Orange offensive coordinator | Observer Preps

There’s been a shakeup on the West Orange football staff, but it’s a familiar face taking on a new role.

When Terrence Tolbert takes the sidelines next year for the Warriors’ football team, he no longer will be overseeing just the running backs — he’ll be taking over the whole offense.

Tolbert was tapped to take over the offensive coordinator position, which was held by Vernon Mitchell before he left to take on the head-coaching gig at Evans.

“I’m looking to getting things started and utilizing the tools that we have to put together the offense, and have as much success — or more — as the other coaches have had prior to me,” Tolbert said.

The departure of Mitchell, which happened after the ending of the Warriors’ season, marks the second time an offensive coordinator under head coach Bob Head has left to take a head-coaching position.

For Head, it’s a two-pronged situation: On one hand, it means he and the program are helping develop assistants into desirable coaches. On the other, it is difficult to replace guys so often. 

“I’m looking to getting things started and utilizing the tools that we have to put together the offense, and have as much success — or more — as the other coaches have had prior to me."

— Terrrence Tolbert 

This time, the answer already was on staff.

“It makes it difficult for me to find someone of quality, but the good thing is that Terrence is such a great coach, and he has been with us for a long time at West Orange,” Head said. “He’s done an outstanding job, and he is a great coach, and I’m super excited and blessed for him to take the job.”

Tolbert, who first arrived to West Orange in 2014, inherits an offense that, under the watchful eye of Mitchell, averaged 40 points per game in 2018 thanks in large part to some key players such as quarterback Elijah Stimmell and wide receiver Darrell Harding.

Unfortunately for Tolbert, both Stimmell and Harding will no longer be around, but it’s not all bad news. The one-two-three punch of Nemea Hall, Sinica Sigler and Jahshari Jones will make the Warriors’ backfield one of the best in the area. Hall was the team’s featured back and rushing leader.

“We really have a three-headed monster at running back,” Tolbert said. “I like to depend upon them to be the square root of our offense going into next year.”

Tolbert already has had multiple talks with Head about the offensive game plan for next year, but right now, a big aspect is evaluating the players on the roster, Tolbert said.

In the past, Tolbert said he has utilized multiple formations, which he believes will be the case next season.

Regardless of what kind of offense Tolbert decides to install, there’s reason to be excited about this upcoming Warriors offense.

“I feel like I’ve been preparing for the last 10 years,” Tolbert said. “I’ve been coaching since 1998, so I’m going on 20 years of coaching high-school football. The experience from being up in the booth and on the field and having some great coaches around me has all contributed.”

Although Tolbert is originally from Pennsylvania, where he was a coach and a part of a family football dynasty at Abington High School, it’s here in Florida — at West Orange — where he has made his home. His two oldest sons are graduates of the school, and Tolbert has become a well-known face in the community.

“I’m fortunate enough to have paid my dues enough and for coach Head to have faith in me to run the program,” Tolbert said. “I’m excited to get started and get to work.”