Head Coach Has Led Team to 12 Straight Winning Seasons
The Titans of Tampa Bay Tech have been one of the Sunshine State’s top football programs since Jayson Roberts took over as head football coach in 2011. But he knows better than anyone that things weren’t always this good at the Gulf Coast school.
When Roberts joined the Tampa Bay Tech staff as an assistant, the team was coming off an 0-10 season the year before, and they didn’t get any better in his first season. A winless 2006 put the Titans at a combined 0-20 over two seasons, making it an uphill climb for Roberts and his fellow assistants. They would begin to emerge from that two-year disaster with hard work and determination.
When Roberts was named the Tampa Bay Tech head football coach in 2011, he took the team to new heights, finishing 10-3 in his first season, including a perfect 6-0 district record. That high level of success has continued under Roberts as head coach, with the Titans going 103-42 on his watch so far.
Now, with the Titans two years removed from the Florida Class 7A state championship game against St. Thomas Aquinas, Roberts’ goal is to get his Tampa Bay Tech team back to the state championship game, and hopefully this time, come out victorious. Roberts said he thinks the Titans are on the right track.
“We had another strong showing last season with a 10-2 record and our third straight district title,” he said. “But the way the season ended, with a second-round loss to Edgewater, was not what we were expecting. We had a sloppy game with five turnovers, and turning the ball over that many times will prevent you from beating anyone.”
The coach said there were extenuating circumstances that may have contributed to their subpar performance.
“I think a bit of the turnover problem stemmed from me not being at the game, or at practice all week,” Roberts said. “My father had passed away the week before, so I was not around the program. Obviously, we didn’t handle it well.”
With the Titans on a 24-4 run heading into 2023, Roberts said he likes the talent he has returning, especially the receiving corps.
“We actually have two of the most talented receivers of the 2025 class in Santonyo Isaac and Dallas Wilson,” said the head coach. “Both have big-time offers.”
Roberts acknowledged the Titans will have to fill some holes due to graduation.
“We are taking some big losses,” he said.
That includes two-year starting quarterback Xavione Washington, a First Team All-State selection last year, as well as three two-year starters on the defensive line: Pitt commit Antonio Camon, Charleston Southern commit Donteye Drew, and Allen University commit Jaheim Borden. Roberts said the team also must fill the big shoes of departing safety Norris Davis, who is headed to Iowa State.
Roberts said despite those losses, there’s some good talent returning, including some younger kids who should make an impact right away.
“We will be breaking in a lot of kids from our JV who went undefeated and unscored-on last season,” Roberts said.
The Titans have achieved 12 straight winning seasons under Roberts. Sounds like Tampa Bay Tech fans can trust their guy to make it 13.
