Ken Dorsey Gets a Pro Coaching Position

The Riverview High football team is preparing to unveil a new pro-style offense this season. Unfortunately, the architect of the new offense won’t be around to call the plays.

Ken Dorsey, the former University of Miami and NFL quarterback who joined the staff of new Riverview football coach Todd Johnson this past spring, is leaving for a coaching job in the NFL. Dorsey is still working with the Rams but will be leaving shortly for an opportunity to coach professional football.

“We knew this would come about sooner or later,” Johnson said. “We are just thrilled to death that we were able to work with him all the way through spring and have him install the offense, and really teach us the ins and outs.”

The offensive coordinator job will be turned over to Jeremy Taylor, who played at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, before graduating from USF and moving to Sarasota in 2000. He has been coaching at Riverview for the past decade and has two children.

“He is a real smart guy, a real Xs and Os coach,” Johnson said about Taylor. “He knows the offense great and will take over the play calling.”
Volunteer coach Torry Johnson will be added to the official staff.

Dorsey, who has yet to reveal the team he will join, installed the type of offense used in college and pro football during the spring and continues to work with the players.

“They have a real good grasp of the offense,” Johnson said about quarterback Devonte “Tater” Williams and the rest of the players. “They know what we are trying to accomplish. They can call plays in the huddle in the two minute situation and have a real good feel for what we are trying to do.”

Dorsey, who led the University of Miami to a national championship in college and played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, has been invaluable in installing the offense and working with the coaches and players.

Dorsey was drafted in the seventh round by the 49ers in 2003, starting three games in place of the injured Alex Smith in 2005. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns for Trent Dilfer in 2006. He played six games with the Browns as a backup before being released.

He also was on the roster of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League after briefly working with the Lakewood Ranch football team. He has recently worked with the football program at IMG Academies.

“He told me before spring that this was his dream and I knew that,” Johnson said about a job in professional football. “He was a bit hesitant to do the play-calling, because he knew anytime this could happen. I said, ‘Look, if we get the opportunity to work with you for a week, we will take it. We want you all the way in.’

“I am glad we did it that way. We learned so much from him, not only the players but the coaches as well. We were lucky to have him for as long as we did.”

The Rams open the football season Aug. 26 against Dunedin at the Ram Bowl in the fall classic. They open the regular season Sept. 2, at Palmetto.



(htpreps.com)