Tohopekaliga hires Paradiso as head coach
Kissimmee Tohopekaliga was in search of long-term stability when considering candidates for its head football coaching vacancy.
The Tigers hope they found it in Anthony Paradiso, who accepted the job Friday after resigning from Lake Nona last month.
Paradiso, 44, is the program’s fourth head coach since the school opened in 2018.
“We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to bring in a seasoned coach that has so much experience and so much success, and someone that’s helped kids get to the next level,” Tohopekaliga athletic director Lonnie Flores said. “The sky is the limit with getting a coach with that much experience.”
Paradiso, a 1995 Colonial High graduate, owns an 83-62 career record in 14 seasons as a head coach, which includes the past 11 seasons at Lake Nona. He previously served two years as head coach at Crystal River (2006-07) and one year at Cypress Creek (2008) before assisting Andy Hamre for two years when Lake Nona opened in 2009.
Paradiso replaces Jeff Higgins, who went 2-8 in his only season with a team that was outscored by a 412-62 margin. Marc Deas led the Tigers to a 12-8 record in 2019 and 20. Anthony Davis opened the program with a 2-7 record in 2018.
“Having continuity in coaches helps to have a sustainable program. It’s shown in our other sports with how successful we’ve been,” Flores said. “If you look around Osceola County alone, the most successful programs have had coaches that have been tenured there for quite a long time.”
Mount Dora and Orlando University also filled head football coaching positions this month. Vacancies remain at Cypress Creek, Lake Brantley, Lake Nona and Deltona Trinity Christian.
University recently hired Mark Barrett as its fourth head coach since 2017. Barrett, a 2010 graduate of Niceville High, was an Apopka assistant in 2021 after spending four years coaching in Texas. He also served as an Apopka assistant from 2014-16.
Mount Dora introduced Luke Hutchinson as its fifth head coach since 2015 on Tuesday. A Fort Pierce native, Hutchinson’s 13-year prep coaching career includes stops in California and at Dr. Phillips High School.
Hutchinson takes over a program with plenty to look forward to as construction has started on a new football field and stadium.
According to Lake County Schools, upgrades consist of “complete reconstruction of the football field, a rebuild of two concession stands, paint and landscaping at a cost of $1.25 million.”
The initial phase is expected to be completed in eight months. Future phases of the project over the next five years include the installation of artificial turf and replacement of the track. The school district has contributed $250,000 toward total costs.
Former Mount Dora coach Donnie Burchfield, who led the Hurricanes to a 4-5 finish in his only season in 2015, has taken over as head coach at Clermont East Ridge.
Burchfield, 40, served as an assistant at East Ridge on Bud O’Hara’s staff in the mid-2000s. He also worked briefly at Tavares and spent 15 years as an assistant at Groveland South Lake.
Burchfield returns to East Ridge after coaching last season at Eustis under Frank Scott. He is the third coach over the past three seasons for the Knights.
“Being a part of it when it was really successful and knowing the potential and how important football is at East Ridge was a motivating factor,” Burchfield said of applying for the position. “I’m looking forward to rebuilding a strong foundation here.”
He said players and coaches already have taken steps toward what he hopes will be a quick turnaround for a program that finished 0-10 last season.
“I’ve got 17 coaches coming in with me and our numbers are up to 87 kids in workouts so far,” Burchfield said. “I’m really excited for it. We’ve got a lot of kids coming out who didn’t play in the past.”
After more than two decades as a football assistant in Seminole County, Tim Dycus landed his first head coaching job last month when Winter Springs named him the successor to Matt Hesselbart.
Dycus, a 1984 Sanford Seminole grad, began his coaching career with the ‘Noles in 1998. He spent four seasons coaching NFL quarterback Jeff Driskel as offensive coordinator at Hagerty under Nate Gierke and the past eight years as a Winter Springs assistant.
“I’ve had multiple interviews over the years in Seminole County, and this was my fourth time interviewing at Winter Springs since I’ve been here, and I’ve finally got my first chance,” Dycus said.
Dycus credited community members and players for helping to elevate him to the top of the candidate list.
“It’s been a long road, and there’s been times where I thought it was never going to happen,” he said. “Now I’m able to be an example for my players. If I’d have quit, I never would’ve been standing where I am right now.”