As first reported by Duval Sport’s Andre Ellis, the Ribault Trojans will have a big change at Head Coach just days before their kickoff classic. Head Coach Kelvin Smith was let go by the team on Friday, and the search for a new head man was underway.
Coach Smith is a Ribault Alumn and a favorite of the players and several team supporters. He went a combined 19-14 at Ribault in three years leading them to the playoffs in consecutive years. “It’s a difficult time for the players” says one parent of the team “but the team will rally around each other”.
Sources tell Duval Sports that Ribault intends to promote assistant coach Wagner Lindsell Shell Jr (Lin-J Shell) as their interim head coach for the fall 2019 season.
Coach Shell Jr has served as an assistant coach on the Ribault Trojans football coaching staff for the past two seasons, working with defensive backs amongst other positions. Shell originally is from Orlando, Florida where he played defensive back at Edgewater High School.
Shell would go on to play college football at Jacksonville University and professional football in the Arena Football League, Canadian Football League, and the National Football League (practice squad).
From Wikipedia
Orlando Predators (2004)
Philadelphia Eagles (2005)*
Orlando Predators (2006–2007)
New Orleans VooDoo (2008)
Toronto Argonauts (2009–2011)
BC Lions (2012–2013)
Calgary Stampeders (2014)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2015)
- Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Ribault faces First Coast for their kickoff classic on August 16th. They will tune up for their regular season debut versus Creeekside High School on August 23rd.
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