MOORE HAVEN – For some of the rising juniors and seniors on the Moore Haven High School football team, getting accustomed to a new head coach is nothing new.

In May, the Terriers wrapped up spring practice with Deric Allen at the helm in his first season. Allen brings playing and coaching experience to the program, but he also knows first-hand how difficult it is for players to adjust to new coaches multiple times.

When Allen was an offensive skill position player and a defensive back at Chiefland High School – 40 miles west of Gainesville – his teams went through three head coaches in four years, so he already had something in common when he first met the Terriers, who have their third head coach in the past four years.

“When I first got here, I was like, ‘Guys, I’ve been here, I’ve experienced it. I know how hard it is to buy in to new coaches over and over,’” Allen said during a spring practice session May 15.

Two months into the job, the 2012 Chiefland High graduate with a 4.23 grade point average has already settled in and been warmly welcomed by the team.

“The response has been great. I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Allen, who attended Florida A&M University and Santa Fe Community College. He’s pursuing a degree in sports management.

As they prepare for the upcoming season, Seminole Tribe of Florida tribal member Greg James and Seminole descendant Thaddeus Johns said they like what they’ve seen from their new coach.

“My third head coach. You just got to get used to it. He’s a good coach. He’s not out here just to be out here so he can have that title; he knows football,” James said.

“He’s good. I like him. He cares about us. He’s giving everybody chances. He works with everybody,” Johns said.

One early change by the new coach is that James could see more time on both sides of the line come August. James, who was listed at 6-foot-3, 270-pounds last season, saw far more playing time on the OL last fall.

“He’s been showcasing his skills on the offensive line, but I think this year everybody – the community, colleges – will get to see his versatility playing both ways. We’re excited about that,” Allen said.

With the loss of about 15 seniors from last year’s team, James will be relied upon not only as a lineman, but also as a leader.

“Greg has been stepping into that leadership role,” Allen said. “He’s transitioning from one of the younger guys to being one of the upperclassmen. He’s been working hard and helping out the younger guys and showing them to how to do the right thing. He’s been great for us.”

James is entering his junior year, a pivotal season for any high school player with aspirations of playing in college.

“The junior year is critical. That’s when the colleges are really locking in on prospects,” Allen said. “If you come out that junior year and you kill it, your senior year the sky is the limit.”

Meanwhile, Johns is heading into his senior year. He saw limited time as a backup wide receiver last season, his first year of football. Johns, a three-sport athlete at the school, has made a good impression with his new coach. All indications are that Johns will have a greater role in the upcoming season, likely as a starting slot receiver who will also play some defensive back.  

“He’s real crafty. I think he’s one of the smoothest route runners on the team. Nice hands,” Allen said. “The opportunities weren’t there too much for him last year, but I think this year he’ll get a chance to show what he’s got.”

Tribal member Andrew Williams played guard during the spring session. He said he was with the team last spring, but didn’t stick with it. He said he wants to be on the team for the upcoming season, which begins Aug. 15 with a fall classic preseason game at North Port.

The schedule also includes a Halloween night game at Lake Placid, which will be a reunion of sorts for Allen. He previously coached the Green Dragons as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, helping them win a district championship last year.

Having coached at Lake Placid and played at Chiefland, Allen is very familiar with rural high school football and small towns like Moore Haven.

“Chiefland is a small, country town. That’s one of the things that attracted me [to Moore Haven]. I’m not one of those city slickers expecting the world,” he said.

Allen takes over a Moore Haven squad that is coming off a rollercoaster 5-5 season. On most nights, the Terriers were either very good or not so good. In each of their five victories, they never allowed more than two touchdowns, however, four of the five losses were by margins of 25 points or more.  

The returning players will have some playoff experience under their belts. Last season as the No. 15 seed in the 16-team Rural Class tournament, they were eliminated in the first game – the regional semifinals – with a lopsided loss to Madison County, which went on to to win the state championship.

Allen said it’s been a positive spring for his young team. He praised the camaraderie and work ethic.

“We’ve got 26 [players]. I feel like for spring [football] in an area like this, that’s a pretty decent number,” Allen said. “We’re heading in the right direction. I feel like it’s going to be a great season.”

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