New Ocoee football coach Ben Bullock shares vision with players, parents

OCOEE — With passion and enthusiasm, new Ocoee football coach Ben Bullock spoke to a room full of parents and players April 6 about his vision for the Knights football program.

Bullock, aiming to turn around a program that has gone 9-41 dating back to 2010 with his new set of goals, spoke about placing an emphasis on academics and developing well-rounded athletes, as well as his hopes that a new outlook and energy around campus will bring about a winning season for Ocoee in the fall.

Already, the new head coach has struck a chord with some of the Knights’ returning players. 

Included among those who are impressed with what he has seen so far is Jeremy Vargas, a junior. Bullock has wasted no time diving head-first into his new role. From the first week that Bullock has been training with the returning players, Vargas said he can tell he is improving and that he is already enjoying the fast-paced atmosphere present in offseason workouts. 

“The way he’s pushing us this season so far — just from the one week, alone, we had three practices, and after each practice, you could tell it was something different,” Vargas said. “We were all sore, but it was a good sore, because we’re all getting better.”

Bullock said he will bring a process-driven approach to the program as well as an emphasis on success in the classroom.

“Each day, if we continue to improve, then the program is going to improve and we’re going to get to where we want to be,” he said.

Bullock, who most recently led Mount Dora to a 8-3 record in his first season as a head coach, anticipates making adjustments as he gets to know the players available to him. In addition to raising the GPAs of his athletes, he intends to place an emphasis on teaching the value of making decisions and accepting the consequences.

With a few successful offseason conditioning sessions already completed, Vargas said he is excited to see how everything will influence the Knights’ season in the fall.

“I’m just looking forward to the season, seeing how everything plays out from how hard we work,” he said. 

Ocoee will take the field for the first time under its new coach when the Knights host University for their spring game at 7:30 p.m. May 22.