How Roberson football's trio father-son relationships are building its family culture

ASHEVILLE – Roberson football is a family matter.

There’s a trio of coaches with sons on the team – coach JD Dinwiddie’s son Lex is the quarterback; quarterbacks coach Jason Stanley’s son Zach plays wide receiver and offensive line coach Phillip Bohanon’s son Cohen plays linebacker.

Those three boys, though, have a much longer history with the Roberson football program.

Before getting to high school, Lex, Zach and Cohen were on the sidelines as Roberson’s ball boys on Friday nights. This season, playing under their fathers, the trio has helped Roberson to an 8-2 record and the 4A No. 8 seed ahead of a potential playoff run.

“It does create the family atmosphere,” Jason Stanley said. “That’s one of the best things and that’s what makes the team grow together.”

The sons aren’t given grief about playing for their dads. Likewise, their dads aren’t accused of favoritism – probably because the coaches are harder on their sons than anyone else.

Having as much family on the team as Roberson does brings those same family values to the team’s entire culture. When they break it down at the end of practice, they say “family.” Dinwiddie always tells the team he loves them before they end the day.

“There’s three kids on the team that are coaches’ kids,” Stanley said. “But these are all of our kids. We take care of them as best we can in the school, we take care of them out of school, we give them rides. It’s family.”

The Dinwiddies

JD Dinwiddie is Roberson’s coach. Lex Dinwiddie is the team’s starting quarterback. It wasn’t designed to be that way, but that’s how it worked out.

“I never said when he was little, ‘Hey, you’re going to be my quarterback,’” JD said. “It just happened that way. I couldn’t be prouder of him as a dad and, of course, as a coach.”

JD naturally has higher expectations for Lex and pushes him harder than most of the team not only because of their relationship, but because of the demands of Lex’s position, too.

After every play on Friday nights, Lex walks over to JD to get the next play call. They’re usually on the same page. But when games and practices end and the Dinwiddies go home, the relationship changes. Football isn’t the topic of conversation very often.

“I’ve been his dad longer than I’ve been his coach,” JD said. “I’ve only been his coach for four years; I’ve been his dad for 17 years. I remember all the times he was little, there wasn’t a day we didn’t go out and throw a ball of some sort.”

The Bohanons

Phillip Bohanon made a decision – he never wanted to coach his son.

So, while Cohen Bohanon plays linebacker, Phillip coaches the offensive line and, as a result, just gets to be Dad.

“Football is an emotional sport,” Phillip said. “I don’t want it to hinder mine and his relationship over a game of football.”

Phillip gets to celebrate Cohen’s successes on the sidelines as his dad, which is different than the relationship he has with his offensive line. There’s extra pride watching his son.

Cohen says it’s helpful having his dad on the sidelines on Friday night because few people will be as honest with him as Phillip.

“I don’t treat him as dad, I treat him as someone I need to listen to and acknowledge,” Cohen said. “He’s my coach. Even if he doesn’t coach my position, I still have to listen to what he says.”

When they get home on Friday nights, the Bohanons watch film together. Unless Cohen asks for coaching, Phillip gets to sit back and tell him he did well.

“If he wants me to tell him what he needs to get better at, he’ll ask,” Phillip said. “If he doesn’t, we sit there and watch it and I pat him on the back.”

The Stanleys

Jason Stanley played under his dad in high school and his sisters played under his stepmom, so coaching his son runs in the family.

Jason and Zach have bonded over football for a long time, starting when Zach was young. He was the ball boy at Jason’s schools. The two would go to Clemson and App State games together.

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“Football is in our blood,” Jason said. “My dad coached for 34 years. It’s natural. We’re used to it and we just do it.”

Zach is the second son Jason has coached. His son Jake graduated in 2022.

Zach said playing under his dad is a lot of fun.

“Whenever I do get my highs in a game, I can always celebrate with my dad and know he’s proud of me,” Zach said. “It also brings a – you can’t really rub it off when you go home, so if you mess up at practice, he’s gonna know.”

Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How Roberson football's family values run deep in team's culture