Standing before a large group of football players tucked inside Hialeah Miami Lakes High’s Little Theater was Tyronn Johnson, their new head coach who told his players he is here to win.
Bringing a wealth of coaching experience that includes two state championships, Johnson believes he can turn around a 4-6 team and meld them into contenders in a district with fierce competition.
But the first step at giving his squad a run at the championship is his players must show leadership, stepping up and facing the tough challenges to become a winning football team.
He also wants his players to have fun while playing the game.
“For me, it’s awesome being here,” said Johnson, who was previously the defensive coordinator at Edison High. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to move forward and take this program to the next level. I am anxious to get started.”
Johnson, who played for the 49ers said the bright spot for the team, so far, is 12 returning players who can help build a winning tradition at HML.
“I was surprised at the players coming back to play this year,” he said. “They are at the experience level that can help bring the team together to get the job done. They can help the younger players go forward. But it takes a process and we are willing to work hard to be a good football team.”
Johnson’s experience as a coach and player on defense could reshape the Trojans’ defense which allowed a lot of points last season.
At Edison, Johnson’s penurious defensive unit finished in the top 10 in all categories, including interceptions, sacks, causing fumbles and loss for yards.
He stopped short of saying his group drew a similar comparison to the 1995 Miami Northwestern High team that won the state title with the No. 1 ranked defense in the state.
Johnson, a defensive end, anchored the defense along with linebacker Nate Webster, who later played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"We plan to run an old school defense," he said. " At Edison. we did different things that made offenses wonder what we were going to do next. I think we made it tough on them."
Johnson was an All-American player at FAMU and a defensive force in the NFL and the Arena Football League with the Tampa Bay Storm.
The Trojans must overcome tough challenges in their district next season, which features powerhouses Northwestern, Norland, Carol City and Central, which won its fourth consecutive state championship, and fifth title in six years.
Johnson hired a coaching staff on both sides of the football in hopes of turning the Trojans into a juggernaut to compete with their division foes.
“We know what we have to do to win,” he said. “The goal is to build a winning tradition.”
Basking in the state championship glory as a player and coach, Johnson wants his players to experience the same excitement.
He was the defensive line coach for Killian High and Northwestern High when the two teams won their state titles in the 2000s.
Johnson admits he will have mixed emotions facing his alma mater for the first time in his coaching career.
“I look forward to the challenge,” he said. “But I still bleed blue and gold.”
Johnson has already reached most of his players who are willing to play for him but with a new demeanor.
“The problem last year for our team was no discipline and lack of leadership,” said one player. “No one wanted to step up.”
Hialeah Miami Lakes principal Eric Acosta told the players he made good on his promise to hire the best coach for the team.
“I got you the best coach to give you an opportunity to win,” he said. “The talent is here. We bleed orange and blue and we bleed for each other.”