Press Release
March 21st, 2023
Tocoi Creek HS Announces the hire of Head Football Coach
Tocoi Creek High School is excited to announce the selection of Zach Harbison as the second Head Football Coach for the Tocoi program.
Coach Harbison is originally from Zeeland, Michigan and graduated from Zeeland HS lettering in Football and Baseball. After high school he went to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan earning a BS in Exercise Science in 2015. There he met his wife Megan and was a four letterman for the Golden Eagles in baseball. They moved to Jacksonville, Fl. after they married, looking for warmer weather to pursue his teaching and coaching aspirations.
He began teaching and coaching football at Southside Middle School in 2018 which quickly led to him being hired at Englewood HS as the Head Football Coach in 2020. Through his time as the head coach at Englewood, he focused on building a successful culture in practice that manifested itself in games and off the field. He prides himself on preparation, accountability, and efficiency. He learned how to better run a football program, including tasks outside the public view like assisting players in the college recruiting process, maintaining facilities, and fundraising. Coach Harbison stated, “To succeed as the head coach, you must be able to communicate effectively with both your players, staff, community, to problem solve efficiently.” In three seasons with the Rams he was able to build culture and accomplish these goals, setting school records on both sides of the ball, and winning more games in a two-year span than all but one team in school history.
In the interview process, Coach Harbison spoke of “being tough but fair and doing what is best for his guys” all while “providing a great experience” for all involved with Tocoi Creek HS and the football program. He will “bring tons of energy and can do this “without ego”. The student athletes will be the focus, using the draw of football to teach qualities that will help all involved evolve into great adults.
He is looking forward to being a mainstay within the World Golf Village community and will help to continue the traditions already begun at Tocoi Creek HS. He expressed that the challenges that are ahead will only motivate he and his staff to prepare the players of TCHS for future success on and off the field.
TCHS Principal, Jay Willets shared, “that we are excited to have Coach Harbison bringing an exuberance that will be shown through the spirited play of the team and set an example in the classroom that all will want to reach for.”
Tocoi Creek HS welcomes Megan and Zach Harbison to the “Toro Nation”.