High School

Grady Morrell tabbed as interim head football coach at Bartow (Florida)

Morrell was formerly the defensive coordinator for the Yellow Jackets

Andy Villamarzo

Bartow running back Traveon Hymes is tackled by a Kathleen defender on Saturday morning at Bartow Memorial Stadium.
Bartow running back Traveon Hymes is tackled by a Kathleen defender on Saturday morning at Bartow Memorial Stadium. / ROY FUOCO/THE LEDGER / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bartow High School moved quickly to install a head football coach with spring ball right around the corner on April 28th.

On Monday, the school's athletic department announced that defensive coordinator Grady Morrell has been named the football program's interim head football coach.

Morrell replaces Tyler Eden, who who was arrested recently by the Polk County Sheriffs Office on three charges of lewd offense against a student by an authority figure, lewd and lascivious touching of a minor and voyeurism.

Florida high school head football coach arrested on charges of inappropriate conduct

Here below is Morrell's message he sent out via Bartow's athletic handle on X:

Dear Bartow families and community,
The opportunity that has been presented to me is nothing but a blessing. Bartow has rich tradition and culture and I am looking forward to building on that. Passion, dedication and commitment to excellence is what the Yellow Jackets are looking to stand on as we build champions of character inside -out.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd holds press conference on former Bartow High School football coach

Eden was the head coach of the Yellow Jackets varsity football team the last two seasons, compiling an overall record of 13-10.

Bartow is scheduled to face Wiregrass Ranch on May 16 in a spring game and also slated to take part in a jamboree on the 17th at Lakeland's Bryant Stadium, which includes Evans, Jesuit, Lakeland, Lake Gibson and Spruce Creek.

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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi

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Andy Villamarzo
ANDY VILLAMARZO

Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.

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