TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Throughout his career, Lincoln High grad BJ Daniels has never forgotten where he came from, and now he's right back where it all started as head football coach of his high school alma mater.
Before the stand-out career at South Florida and before the Super Bowl ring, BJ Daniels suited up for Lincoln High School.
"I'm thinking about stuff right now," Daniels said. "About how many sprints I've run up and down this field, about how many times I felt like I was going to throw up!"
Now, Daniels will stand on that very field, but leading his alma mater.
"It hasn't hit me quite yet," said Daniels. "I can't wait until school starts opening back up and I'll be able to be around the same hallways that basically helped raise me."
He's wanted to give back to those hallways. It's a move that came a little earlier than planned.
"With the coronavirus situation and when I was with the XFL, it closed down a lot of sports, it forced my hand a little bit to pursue the career and the dream I wanted to do," Daniels said.
There's no where else he'd rather be.
"To have an opportunity to come back to Tallahassee, the city that I love, and the school that basically raised me and helped project me into the career and the young man I've become, I'm thankful," said Daniels. "It is a dream."
It's a dream he wants to help young Trojans get to, too.
Just to do what I can to give all the knowledge and information I've accumulated over my entire career and pass it along. Just to continue the tradition that's already been set in place, just to continue to be a part of something that's great. I just want to do what I can to make sure we're doing things the right way and carrying the tradition the way it should be.
Daniels said his focus now is preparing for his athletes when they're able to start working out again on June 15, and to finalize his coaching staff.
