Three-time FHSAA football state champion Rick Darlington is returning to Florida to take over as head coach at DeLand High School.
DeLand athletic director Lance Jenkins made the announcement via email and on social media Monday at 3 p.m.
The move comes three years to the day since Darlington was named head coach at Enterprise High in Alabama, where he led the Wildcats to the playoffs each of the past three seasons.
“I’m a Florida guy. Grew up in Lakeland and went to college at Stetson [in DeLand]. I saw this as an opportunity to go home and be around family and friends,” Darlington said during a phone interview with the Orlando Sentinel while driving from Enterprise to DeLand on Monday.
Darlington, who was offered the job last Thursday, said he is scheduled to be introduced to DeLand players during the school day on Tuesday. He will start the new position full-time in January.
Darlington said Jenkins reached out to gauge his interest in the job and that they had several conversations before he made his decision.
“It’s a one-school town, and that’s rare in Florida. They have a reputation of having tough, physical kids. You know that’s right up my alley. I think it fits me,” he said.
Darlington replaces Steve Allen, who resigned in November after going 25-20 and making three trips to the playoffs in five seasons.
Darlington left Apopka in December 2018 with a 167-47 record in 17 seasons during two different stints, which included a 31-13 record in the playoffs. The Blue Darters won state championships under his guidance in 2001, 2012 and 2014 and finished state runners-up in 2013.
He took over an Enterprise team that finished 2-8 in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018 and led the Wildcats to an 8-4 state quarterfinal season this fall after going 7-4 in 2020 and 5-6 in 2019.
Darlington’s overall career record stands at 234-87, which includes three years at Eustis from 1996-98 and three years at Valdosta, Ga., from 2003-05. Valdosta finished state runners-up in his first season with the team in 2003.
“It’s been a great three years in Alabama,” Darlington said. “It’s a football program the way you would like to have in Florida. The people, the facilities, the support are all great. Just as good as the day I came.
“I could have stayed. But when I thought about where we want to be in five or 10 years and where would be best for my family …. that was DeLand,” he said. “We’re heading back home to Florida.”
The youngest two of the Darlington’s seven children will enroll at DeLand. Wyatt will be a sophomore and Lilly a freshman. Two more are married and living in Lake County. Zack, a former Apopka quarterback, lives in Tavares with his wife and the Darlington’s first grandchild. Molly is a nurse living in Eustis.
Darlington, 56, said he always thought DeLand could be a good coaching job. He became more impressed, he said, while watching DeLand beat his 2009 Apopka team in a state semifinal and then bring a big following to the Class 6A championship game. The Bulldogs lost the final against Miramar 42-20 at what is now Camping World Stadium.
“That was really the only deep playoff run they ever made and I remembered how excited their fan base was,” Darlington said. “They’ve got players. They’ve got a great community. I think that could be special.”
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
