Anthony White knows talent when he sees it.
And he knows how to turn gifted players into a championship-winning team.
As Norland’s offensive coordinator in 2012, the offense led by running back Duke Johnson who is now a starter for the Miami Hurricanes, White helped the Vikings win the state championship.
Now White is taking his own talent to American High School.
White, 33, was chosen as the Patriots’ new head coach, replacing Corey Bell, who accepted the defensive backs coaching job at Florida Atlantic University.
With White’s coaching experience and studying under the tutelage of Daryle Heidelburg, arguably one of the best offensive minds in high-school football for five years, American shouldn’t miss a beat for a team that won back-to-back district titles but failed to win a playoff game in nearly 17 years.
White’s challenge is to get them over the hump.
The unpretentious White gives all the credit for Norland’s success to his mentor and Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High’s new head coach Horane Allison, who was the running backs coach.
“Coach Heidelburg showed me a lot of things,” White said. “He allowed Allison and myself to run the offense with our different niches to make the team a success.”
White takes over an American team that on paper is in the running for a third consecutive district championship.
The Miami native has yet to pick a starting quarterback but the three players competing for the position give the Patriots the best chance to move the ball down the field.
Juniors Joshua Cartwright and Marques Jackson and sophomore Tyree Bibby look impressive during practices and White said he may choose a starter this week.
Jackson also plays wide receiver.
The starting quarterback will have a depth of on-field body guards to protect him.
American is loaded at the running back position with sophomores Jaramari Johnson, Cinque Sweeting and juniors Shammond Williams and Terry Borders.
The group of runners will also split time as blocking fullbacks, White said.
“The running game is very important to our offense,” said White. “We still have the traditional fullbacks.”
The Patriots also have depth at the wide receiver position but the receiving corps is young with Jackson, Anthony Tyler, James Banks and Anthony White Jr., the coach’s 15-year-old son.
“They are the leading candidates for our receiving group,” White said.
On defense, American is bringing out what it considers to be among the best group in Miami-Dade County, with Jaramari Denson, Caron Jackson, Darrius Rolle, Jamal Smith, and D’ Angelo Elms.
Before his stint with Norland, White was the quarterbacks coach at Hialeah Miami Lakes and Hialeah High.
After graduating from North Miami High, White attended Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
White said he’s looking forward to facing Allison this season, who he calls a good friend.
White said the American-Hialeah Miami Lakes game is called the Battle of Northwest 67th Avenue; both schools, about three miles apart, are located along Ludlum Road.
“It’s going to be great going against my good buddy,” White said. “We talk and share our experiences as coaches, and with him being a second time head coach, he gives me some good advice.”