Leader of the Pirates: Bobby Dan McGlohorn brings long experience to new coaching role

Fernandina Beach has found the next captain of its football Pirate ship.

The Pirates hired former Providence coach Bobby Dan McGlohorn as their new head high school football coach, the athletic department announced Thursday.

For McGlohorn, the magic word is consistency.

"Consistency. That's what we're after," he said. "Hard work, dedication, commitment to the task at hand."

He replaces Apollo Wright, who coached the Pirates for two years before stepping down in February to take a college football position as offensive coordinator at Morgan State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Wright compiled a 7-13 record during his tenure.

For McGlohorn, Fernandina Beach represents just a short distance from his most recent football post across the state line in Camden County, where he served as an offensive assistant under now-retired Wildcats coach Jeff Herron. He pointed to Herron and Inman Sherman, who coached South Sumter for 32 seasons, as major influences on his career.

"Fernandina Beach has been building toward that consistency these last few years, building into a consistent program," he said. "I think this program is poised to be successful."

In all, McGlohorn has more than a quarter-century of coaching experience in four states. He previously coached Providence from 2018 to 2021, with a 14-19 career record with the Stallions. The school made the move from Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A to the independent ranks during his tenure. McGlohorn also directed Lakeland Christian from 2008 to 2010.

For Fernandina Beach, which finished 3-7 last year, changes are on the way for 2024.

The school, along with West Nassau, previously announced plans to move away from FHSAA district competition for the coming 2024-25 cycle to compete in the Sunshine State Athletic Association for football. The Pirates and Warriors would become Northeast Florida's first non-magnet public schools to make the SSAA football move.

McGlohorn said he is beginning the process of assembling a coaching staff, which he expects to include several assistants from the Pirates' 2023 squad, ahead of the start of spring practice next month.

"I'm excited to bring that Camden County work ethic to Fernandina Beach," he said.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bobby Dan McGlohorn: Fernandina Beach hires head football coach