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Stokes Steps Down As Bloomingdale Coach

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 14, 2009

Jason Stokes said Wednesday he is stepping down from the Bloomingdale High head football coaching position.

In his first year as coach, Stokes turned around one of the more unsuccessful programs in Hillsborough County. The Bulls achieved their first winning season (6-5) and earned a trip to the Class 5A region quarterfinals as the 5A-District 7 runner-up, where they lost to eventual 5A state runner-up Lakeland.

"I told the kids and my administration (Tuesday) and that was hard to do," Stokes said. "I have a lot of great memories here. The administration is great. I told the kids it has nothing to do with them. I told them you'll never be the Bloomingdale of old again."

Stokes, who was named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Coach of the Year, said he will apply to several schools, including Middleton and Freedom. The Middleton position became vacant when administration told six-year coach Harry Hubbard he was no longer the program's coach in December. Marquel Blackwell was officially removed from the Freedom job on Monday.

Although it hasn't been made official, Middleton, which ended the 2008 season 2-8, will play in Class 2A next season while Freedom (4-6), could play in Class 5A.

"I'm from a neighborhood like Middleton's," Stokes said. "It's always been a dream of mine to give back to a school like that. Kids like that need a mentor."

Bloomingdale graduates 20 seniors from the 2008 team, including all-county second-team linebacker C.J. Curran. The Bulls will return running backs Anthony Amos and Derek Johnson, who combined for over 1,100 yards.

Stokes was hired at Bloomingdale to replace Corey Brinson, who led the program for five years.

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