“It’s always tough to make a move like this but it has always been a goal for me,” said Jason Stokes, commenting on his decision to leave the Riverview football program and continue his coaching career as the Bloomingdale Bulls new football head coach. The Riverview football program has had its fair share of ups and downs since the school has opened. Every year it has had the potential of going all the way to state but it is something the Sharks are yet to remedy. Stokes, who started his first year with the Sharks as junior varsity head coach and later became influential as the Sharks’ defensive coordinator, a position he has been serving for the last five years. “I had good times at Riverview and will miss the kids and I know they will miss me as well,” Stokes said adding, “You see kids grow on and off the field and it is never easy to move on.”He has been molding the players along side Riverview head coach Dan O’Regan who has reportedly resigned his coaching position but will continue teaching at Riverview High School.Stokes explained that being a head coach was always in the plans for him and Bloomingdale presented the opportunity he has been waiting for. “I did not want to pass up this chance,” Stokes said. “I hope to bring the same work ethics and mold the kids at Bloomingdale as I have been doing for the Sharks for the last five years.”Besides Stokes and O’Regan, Riverview also has to contend with loosing James Grant, who worked alongside and will join Stokes at Bloomingdale as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Stokes will also be the Bulls defensive coordinator.All of this only opens the door for an exciting new chapter for both programs. The Sharks and the Bulls are both facing a shake up in the coaching line, but they are set to give it all they’ve got with new ideas, work ethics, expectations and the aspiration to win.
Photo Caption: Jason Stokes, the Bloomingdale Bulls new football head coach.
