Our ITG Next Florida “4 Questions” spotlight this week is on Bartram Trail head football coach Cory Johns, who is in his first season with the Bears. Coach Johns may be new to Bartram Trail, but he certainly isn’t new to football. He played at Interlachen High School before going to Jacksonville University, where he played briefly before bringing his playing career to an end.
Johns set his sights on coaching and was hired at Nature Coast Tech, where he spent six seasons before taking the Bartram Trail football position. Bears fans are hoping Johns can replicate the success he had at Nature Coast Tech, where he led his team to the postseason each year, including four district championships. Johns was named the 2018 SunCoast Coach of the Year by the Tampa Bay Times.
Coach Johns succeeded former head coach Darrell Sutherland, who retired after leading the Bartram Trail football program for 23 seasons. So far Johns has the Bears at 3-3 overall and tied for first place in district play. How are things going for Johns so far, and what does he think about the Bears’ outlook for the rest of the season? Let’s find out in this week’s “4 Questions with the Coach.”
Q. Coach, thanks again for taking a few moments to chat with us here at ITG Next. As I mentioned in the introduction, this is your first year at Bartram Trail, and congrats on a solid start to the season. Before we get too far into the future expectations, let’s talk about your career and life before arriving at Bartram Trail. What was it that attracted you to coaching, and was there one central figure who influenced your decision to enter the profession?
A. I knew I wanted to coach since high school, had some really good people coach me, and that’s what spurred that thought. Bobby Humphries and Jeff Finch were the two coaches. I started coaching as an assistant at Ridge Community High School in Polk County for Richard Tate, who I owe everything to. Tate and his family continue to be a source of inspiration and great friends.
Q. I see where you had success at Nature’s Coast Tech, taking the Sharks to the playoffs in each season you were the head coach. With the success that you were having there, what was it that led you to want to leave and go after the Bartram Trail football coaching job, where you’re coming in behind Darrell Sutherland, the school’s one and only head football coach. No pressure, right?
I was at Ridge for five years, then I got my first opportunity to take over as a head coach at Liberty High school in Kissimmee. I made great relationships there and great friends. After Liberty, the Nature Coast job became available and it took off from there. The chance to come to Bartram Trail was a no-brainer, mainly because I am from the area and my entire family and close friends live in the area.
Q. At the time of this “4 Questions” feature, you have the Bears playing .500 ball, at 3-3 overall, and so far undefeated in district play. There’s still a lot of football left to play, but how do you feel about where your team is at this point, and how far do you think the Bears can go with the talent you have?
A. We lost to Mainland, the No. 2 team in the state, by four points, with a blocked field goal, two missed field goals, and a 10-point lead in the fourth. We lost to St Augustine, the No. 9 team, by three after being tied with 1:30 left in the game. Then to IMG, the No. 3 team in the nation; we led 14-6 at halftime, scored the most points any team did this season, and are the only team to have a lead on them this season. We feel OK about where we are.
Q. Who are the team leaders you’ll be counting on to carry this group to a deep playoff run, which I’m sure you and the Bartram Trail fans are hoping for?
A. Riley Trujillo, Laython Biddle, Sergio Lanzas and Caden Baldwin.
