Marcus Neeson named head football coach at Apopka (Florida)

Apopka High School didn’t have to look too far for its next head coach. He was already on their current coaching staff.

Marcus Neeson told On3 Thursday morning that he has been tabbed as the Apopka Blue Darters’ next head football coach. Neeson replaces Jeff Rolson, who stepped down as Apopka’s head coach in late May.

“It’s going to be a tough year coming up, dealing with the transfer situation,” Neeson said. “We’ve got great tradition and a great community. As far as the X’s and O’s, there’s going to be no problem that.”

Neeson was Apopka’s defensive coordinator under Rolson, but also served as an assistant coach under former Blue Darters’ lead man Rick Darlington, who led the program to three state championships. Darlington is now currently the head coach at DeLand High School.

“(Rolson and Darlington) are great leaders and great head coaches,” Neeson added. “You’ve got your offensive mastermind and defensive mastermind. They’ve also both helped me with building great character men. I feel like I’m going to bring longevity to the program. I’ve been one of the younger guys within the program.”

Rolson was in charge of three Apopka teams that made state championship appearances in 2019, 2021 and 2022. During his six seasons at the helm of the Blue Darters, Rolson had compiled a record of 55-23, with three of those totaling 11-plus victories. He put in his resignation not too long after a 31-14 spring game loss to Orlando Jones, citing an exodus of transfers being one of the primary reasons for leaving.

Now tasked with leading the Apopka football program, Neeson will have an uphill battle up against some of the top programs in the state, with neighboring Orlando Jones, Kissimmee Osceola, Lake Mary, The First Academy and Sanford Seminole to name a few.

Neeson furnished On3 with his coaching journey leading to his appointment as the next head coach at Apopka:

‘I started my coaching journey as a senior at Gulf High School. Coach Jeff Koos was my football, basketball, and track coach at Gulf Middle School that made a huge impact on my life as a young man just trying survive a brand new life, in a new state, with a new family. For my senior project I was allowed to coach basketball at Paul R. Smith Middle School under Coach Koos, who at the time, worked with my Stepmother, Carolyn Ayala. I had some college looks football but didn’t really apply myself for the scholarship hunt. Coach Jay Fulmer and Kenneth Hollar mentioned to me that if I didn’t go anywhere to play, then I was more than welcome to join their coaching staff. 

I took an offer to Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. I spent two seasons there before transferring back home to community college to finish my AA degree. During that time, Matt Kingsley, who also worked at Paul R. Smith mentioned that a new high school was opening up next door. He asked if I’d be interested in helping out with the defensive backs and wide receivers at Anclote High School. I was then introduced to Matt Wicks and asked to join his staff. Helping Coach Wicks start a program and build tradition came with a lot of growing pains. What I didn’t know at the time was that the experience I received in that process would allow me to reach where I am today.

I decided to transfer to UCF for my bachelors degree in Sport & Exercise Science: Coaching and Leadership. Shout out to Everett Pruitt, my UCF Day 1! 

In 2014, I took my first adult job at Clay Springs Elementary as a PE Teacher. In 2016, my principal called me into her office. She sat me down and had a heart to heart talk with me because she saw I lost my excitement. She basically told me I needed to pursue whatever it was that I was passionate about. So in 2017, I did just that. 

For the past 8 years, it has been an honor to serve as an assistant coach at Apopka High School. I’ve had to the privilege to coach under the great leadership of Rick Darlington and Jeff Rolson. I started as a Freshman Defensive Coordinator with Rodney Hodges. When Rick Darlington resigned, a fellow coach called me and asked if I was going to apply for the position. My response to him was that I didn’t want to be the guy that followed behind The Guy! I also wasn’t ready to take on that responsibility. The first time I met Jeff Rolson I didn’t make a great impression. I was too busy serving Mike Granato a 21-0 skunk in Madden at Matt Anderson’s house. I am forever grateful to Coach Anderson for convincing Rolson to keep me on staff. As time went on I worked my way up the ranks to Defensive Coordinator. The gentlemen that I’ve been allowed to coach along side the past 8 years have helped me grow into the man and coach that I am today.

With all of the help from these coaches over the years, it has put me in position to apply and receive the offer to be the next Head Coach at Apopka High School. 

#HokaHey

Matt Wicks

Matt Kingsley

Cindy Anderson

Jeff Koos

Alicia Rolson

Rick Darlington

Ty Parker

Everett Pruitt

Vicki Fulmer

Red Wright

Kenneth Hollar

Anthony Fieldings

Rodney Hodges

Ed Schenk 

Dawson Shreiner

Larvez Mars

Kelvin Joyner

Thomas Paolucci‘