When Terry Alexander arrived at Marine Corps Base Quantico as a high school junior in 2004, the Homerville, Georgia native quickly learned how to adjust on the fly.
Alexander was a standout running back who transferred and joined Quantico’s high school football team when his father was stationed on the base.
“Being that it was a military base, every year we had to scramble and wonder, ‘Are we going to have enough players?’” Alexander said.
Alexander recalled that experience after his hiring as the new football coach at Caroline High School was approved by the county’s school board Monday night.
Alexander, 35, had already begun formulating a plan to assemble a coaching staff and reach out to players and their families to ensure everyone is on board and engaged as camps and offseason workouts continue.
He was the Cavaliers’ junior varsity head coach and varsity running backs coach in 2023. He also teaches strength and conditioning at the school, so he was able to maintain contact with players while the Cavaliers searched for someone to replace former head coach Gerard Johnson.
Alexander lives with his wife, Mackenzie, and children in the Ladysmith area of the county and said he aims to be a positive influence in the community.
“I feel like my purpose is here,” Alexander said. “I am here for these kids. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to coach these boys. They really do mean the world to me.”
Alexander takes over for Johnson, who resigned in May to accept a job as the cornerbacks coach at Roanoke College, which will have a football program this season for the first time since 1942.
Johnson assisted in keeping the team unified until he departed. Alexander said he’s thankful Johnson kept the team together during the transition, even taking the players to a team camp at Randolph-Macon College earlier this week.
“Without him fulfilling that role of keeping things going, it leaves room for error with kids not staying engaged and getting into other things,” Alexander said. “So, I’m really grateful for him being able to do that.”
After Alexander graduated from Quantico, he played one year at West Virginia Wesleyan University where he earned a scholarship. He departed college and joined the Marine Corps following the birth of his daughter. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s in sports management, both from Liberty University.
This will be his first opportunity as a varsity head coach. He played and coached for a semipro Marine Corps team and coached junior varsity girls basketball at Chancellor High School for one year.
His focus is primarily on offense.
“I like to light up the scoreboard,” he said, noting that the Cavaliers scored 77 points in his JV head coaching debut last season.
Alexander is stepping into a much different situation than Johnson and many of his predecessors. The Cavaliers had lost 22 straight games when Johnson arrived. They won five games in his first season, including their first regional playoff victory in 29 years. They were 4-6 last season with a few close defeats.
They return several starters on both sides of the ball, including all five offensive linemen and two-time 1,000-yard rusher Vladimir Joacin. They also expect to return all-district performers Blake Morris (wide receiver), Malik Johnson (safety) and Ty’Eir Williams (defensive end). Their most pressing issue is a quarterback battle to replace former standout Myles Holmes.
Alexander said he will run a spread offense with a balance between running and passing.
“I’m just extremely blessed to have this opportunity,” he said. “I’m very thankful they chose me to be the next head coach.”
