Donohoe returns to football coaching ranks at Freedom

Posted Feb 20, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 20, 2012 at 06:53 PM

After resigning as Strawberry Crest’s head football coach against his will last spring, Todd Donohoe was certain of two things: he didn’t want to leave the Chargers’ program and would one day coach again somewhere else.

That day came Monday, when Donohoe was named the new head coach at Freedom High, where the 42-year-old Donohoe is teaching.

Donohoe says he enjoyed the nine months away from coaching because it gave him a chance to spend more time with his daughter, 8-year-old Alexa, and his wife, Kendal. But a passion for coaching drove him to apply for several of the football positions that came open in Hillsborough County since late November, including his former job at The Crest.

“Coaching is in my blood,” said Donohoe, who spent four seasons at Armwood as an assistant under Sean Callahan. “I wanted to get back, some how, some way. I applied at Strawberry Crest because so many folks wanted me to and since I still live in Plant City and I still go to the grocery store there and see people, I felt like I owed it to them to try.

“But honestly, I really wanted to be here at Freedom. This is where I teach now and this is where I’ve gotten to know so many of the kids. We’ve got a lot of good things going on at Freedom and I’m excited and honored to be the guy they chose to lead the football program.”

Freedom athletic director Eli Thomas said he received more than 20 applications for the job, including for from out of state and three from outside the county. After an eight-member panel conducted several rounds of interviews, Thomas said Donohoe won out not just because he was already on staff at the school, but for other important factors.

‘‘Our top candidates were very close. We just thought Todd brought more to the program,’’ Thomas said. ‘‘He has a lot of organizational skills and has a passion for what he’s doing.’‘

Donohoe says he will continue to be the Patriots’ boys coach for at least this season and maybe longer. He said the track team has allowed many of his top returning athletes to maintain conditioning.

Donohoe replaces former Patriots coach Tchecoy Blount, who was not re-hired following two seasons and a combined 6-14 record. Donohoe was Strawberry Crest’s head coach for the school’s first two seasons of football. The Chargers played a full varsity schedule in his second year and posted a 5-5 mark, with one win coming by forfeit.