DELAND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
DeLand and Volusia County’s First-Ever High School Football Game:
October 1920, at Stetson Athletic Field vs. Orlando High School. No score was printed in the DeLand Sun-News, but the paper stated Orlando “routed” DHS. The players had only tried on uniforms two days before their first game and had only one short scrimmage beforehand.
YEAR-BY-YEAR & HEAD COACHES
RICK DARLINGTON
Record: 32–14 (69.57%) (updated to include 2025 win)
Tenure: 2022–Present
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2025 |
10–0 |
Regular season complete — undefeated. |
| 2024 |
5–6 |
Started mostly freshmen & sophomores; Lost to Lake Mary (1st Round); Highest Team GPA in 7A |
| 2023 |
11–3 |
District Champions; Lost to Venice (Regional Final) |
| 2022 |
6–5 |
District Champions; Lost to Osceola 30–28 (1st Round) |
STEVE ALLEN
Record: 26–21 (55.32%)
Tenure: 2017–2021
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2021 |
4–4 |
— |
| 2020 |
4–4 |
Lost to Seminole (1st Round) |
| 2019 |
7–3 |
Lost to Timber Creek (1st Round) |
| 2018 |
8–3 |
Lost to Mandarin (1st Round) |
| 2017 |
3–7 |
— |
VERNON SHELTON
Record: 2–11 (15.38%)
Tenure: 2015–2016
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2016 |
2–8 |
— |
| 2015 |
0–3 |
Interim; Named head coach following season |
JAMES THOMSON
Record: 13–15 (46.43%)
Tenure: 2013–2015
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2015 |
2–5 |
Resigned before season’s end |
| 2014 |
7–4 |
District Runner-Up; Lost to #1 First Coast 32–19 (1st Round) |
| 2013 |
4–6 |
Four losses decided on final play (combined margin: 17 points) |
AL MANNING
Record: 6–5 (54.55%)
Tenure: 2012
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2012 |
6–5 |
District Champions; Lost to Sanford Seminole (1st Round) |
RYAN SMITH
Record: 10–2 (83.33%)
Tenure: 2011
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2011 |
10–2 |
District Champions; Lost to Fletcher (2nd Round) |
KEVIN PETTIS
Record: 27–11 (71.05%)
Tenure: 2008–2010
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2010 |
9–3 |
District Champions; 2nd Round |
| 2009 |
13–2 |
District Runner-Up; State Runner-Up |
| 2008 |
5–6 |
District Runner-Up; Lost to Seminole (1st Round) |
LARRY CANDETO
Record: 6–15 (28.57%)
Tenure: 2006–2007
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2007 |
0–10 |
— |
| 2006 |
6–5 |
District Champions; Lost to Lake Brantley (1st Round) |
DEAN FABRIZIO
Record: 12–7 (63.16%)
Tenure: 2004–2005
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2005 |
7–3 |
Eliminated late from playoff contention |
| 2004 |
5–4 |
Mainland game canceled (hurricanes) |
BILL ELDER
Record: 9–11 (45%)
Tenure: 2002–2003
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2003 |
4–6 |
— |
| 2002 |
5–5 |
— |
MIKE HARVILLE
Record: 12–18 (40%)
Tenure: 1999–2001
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 2001 |
4–6 |
— |
| 2000 |
3–7 |
— |
| 1999 |
5–5 |
— |
WADE ROLLINSON
Record: 23–12 (65.71%)
Tenure: 1996–1998
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1998 |
9–3 |
District Runner-Up; Lost to Lake City Columbia (2nd Round) |
| 1997 |
10–2 |
District Champions; Lost to Niceville (2nd Round) |
| 1996 |
4–7 |
District Runner-Up; Lost to Lake Howell (1st Round) |
HOWIE DeCRISTOFARO
Record: 24–8 (75%)
Tenure: 1993–1995
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1995 |
10–1 |
District Champions; Lost to Lake Brantley (1st Round) — 10–0 regular season |
| 1994 |
8–3 |
Won Rotary Bowl vs Everett, MA |
| 1993 |
6–4 |
— |
DAVE HISS
Record: 49–54 (47.57%)
Tenure: 1983–1992
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1992 |
2–8 |
|
| 1991 |
3–7 |
|
| 1990 |
5–5 |
|
| 1989 |
5–5 |
|
| 1988 |
3–7 |
|
| 1987 |
7–3 |
No postseason |
| 1986 |
7–4 |
District Champions; Lost to Sandalwood (1st Round) |
| 1985 |
7–4 |
Beat Pierson Taylor (Fern Bowl) |
| 1984 |
7–4 |
Lost to Seabreeze (Whopper Bowl) |
| 1983 |
3–7 |
|
DON STOWERS
Record: 22–28 (44%)
Tenure: 1978–1982
(Eastern Michigan grad; previously 63–25–2)
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1982 |
3–7–0 |
|
| 1981 |
2–8–0 |
|
| 1980 |
5–4–0 |
One game result possibly missing |
| 1979 |
6–5–0 |
Fern Bowl win vs Pierson Taylor |
| 1978 |
6–4–0 |
Won 1st Fern Bowl vs Pierson Taylor |
JIM BOHL (New Mexico State grad)
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1977 |
2–8–0 |
3rd season |
| 1976 |
5–5–0 |
— |
| 1975 |
10–2–0 |
District Champions; Lost to Merritt Island (2nd Round) |
BRUCE GREATHOUSE
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1974 |
4–6–0 |
— |
FRED GOLDSMITH
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1973 |
4–5–1 |
— |
| 1972 |
5–5–1 |
Tied Gainesville Eastside 0–0 in Christmas Bowl |
BILL BRADFORD
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1971 |
0–10–0 |
— |
| 1970 |
6–4–0 |
— |
COACH BURTON
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1969 |
8–3–0 |
Lost to Daytona Mainland (Christmas Bowl) |
| 1968 |
3–7–0 |
— |
BILL SPOONE
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1967 |
2–7–1 |
— |
| 1966 |
3–7–0 |
— |
TOM HILL
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1965 |
4–6–0 |
— |
| 1964 |
4–6–0 |
— |
| 1963 |
5–5–0 |
— |
JAMES “SPEC” MARTIN – 2nd STINT (1945–1962)
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1962 |
2–7–1 |
|
| 1961 |
4–5–1 |
|
| 1960 |
5–5–0 |
|
| 1959 |
3–7–0 |
|
| 1958 |
2–6–1 |
|
| 1957 |
5–4–0 |
|
| 1956 |
2–6–0 |
8-game schedule |
| 1955 |
8–2–0 |
EFC Champions; beat Ketterlinus (St. Augustine) |
| 1954 |
4–5–1 |
Southern Div. EFC Champs; lost to Ketterlinus |
| 1953 |
7–3–1 |
Southern Div. EFC Champs; lost to Palatka |
| 1952 |
7–4–0 |
Southern Div. EFC Champs; lost to Ketterlinus; Shrine Bowl win vs Cocoa |
| 1951 |
2–7–0 |
|
| 1950 |
5–5–0 |
|
| 1949 |
8–2–0 |
Lost Citrus Bowl to South Broward |
| 1948 |
3–3–3 |
|
| 1947 |
6–1–2 |
EFC Champions |
| 1946 |
3–6–0 |
|
Pre-Return Interim:
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1945 |
5–6–0 |
Head Coach: S.L. Coker; postseason loss to Sanford |
BRADY COWELL
CARROLL GREEN
TOM ZORETIC
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1942 |
4–4–1 |
Season incomplete |
JAMES “SPEC” MARTIN – 1st STINT (1938–1941)
| Year |
Record |
Notes |
| 1941 |
2–5–2 |
|
| 1940 |
8–2 |
|
| 1939 |
0–9–1 |
|
| 1938 |
5–6–0 |
Postseason win vs Princeton, KY |
ED SPRING (Fired after player walkout)
| Year |
Record |
| 1937 |
2–7–0 |
| 1936 |
— |
| 1935 |
8–2–1 |
| 1934 |
— |
| 1933 |
— |
CECIL BECK
| Year |
Record |
| 1932 |
4–4–0 (incomplete) |
| 1931 |
— |
| 1930 |
— |
BOB WILSON
| Year |
Record |
| 1929 |
3–2–0 (incomplete) |
| 1928–1926 |
Records not listed |
“SUG” COX
| Year |
Record |
| 1925 |
3–2–1 (incomplete) |
| 1924–1921 |
Records unlisted |
FOUNDING SEASON
| Year |
Notes |
| 1920 |
First football team in Volusia County; Lost inaugural game vs Orlando High at Stetson Athletic Field |
