Hillsborough Football Offensive Coaching Staff

Now in his 41st season as a high school football coach, Garcia has been the Head Football Coach at Hillsborough in Tampa for the past 23 years. His record of 203-59 makes him the career leader in victories at Hillsborough High, the county’s oldest school. Coach Garcia’s overall record of 236-97 makes him the winningest active coach in Hillsborough County and places him second in Hillsborough County history. Hillsborough has advanced to post-season play in 21 of Coach Garcia’s 23 years at the school including the State 6A finals in 1996. He was named the “Coach of the Decade” during the 1990’s by the Tampa Tribune and has been credited by many for leading the resurgence of Hillsborough County high school football as a state power.

Earl is the past president of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and has been named to six high school all-star games including the
2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio where he coached Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Beanie Wells and C.J. Spiller among others. Included on that list are the inaugural Florida-Georgia Bowl in the Georgia Dome and the first Florida-California All-Star game in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.

Joseph Sipp started his career at HHS in 1993; was a three year started at Guard for Hillsborough and made 1st team all-District, 1st team all-county, 1st team all-conference and 1st team all-Sun coast for all three years. Was 2nd team all-state his junior year and made 1st team all-state his senior year. Sipp was a senior Captain for Hillsborough and ended up earning a full football scholarship to the University of South Florida. There he started history being on the inaugural football team and also started every game for USF for four years. Sipp’s junior and senior year he made 1st team All-Conference and was an Academic All American as well. Sipp was chosen to be one of the four team captains for his Junior and Senior years. He won the Offensive lineman of the Year award 2 years in a row. He went on to play two years in the Arena Football league for the Orlando Predators. One interesting fact about Sipp is that from his 8th grade year until his last year in Arena Football, he has started every game of his football career (130 games.) Joseph is now married to Jasmon and has three beautiful kids: Janiya, Joseph Jr., and Jalacey Sipp and raised Akema Beacham.

Alonso Ashwood has been teaching for 15 years and is currently teaching at Middleton: History and Government. He has been coaching for 13 years with 11 years spent on the Terriers staff. Married to Hariena for 10 Years, Son played at Hillsborough Graduated in 2009 Played at Toledo University, Two Step Daughters Jhnae and Lariena.

Coach Kelly was most recently the Head Football Coach at Strawberry Crest High School where he’s a Business Technology teacher as well as serves as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor. He was voted as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers high school coach of the week in 2012.

Coach Kelly graduated from Armwood High School and played on the first team in school history to qualify for the FHSAA state playoffs in 1996 earning All Western Conference and All-County his senior year as a Tight End for Coach Sean Callahan and the Hawks.

After graduation, Coach Kelly went on to serve his country in the United States Army for four years. During those years, Coach Kelly was selected as the youngest ever (at the time) to be chosen for assignment to the Army Space Commands’ JTAGS unit where he served for two years in Stuttgart, Germany.

Upon completion of his military service, Coach Kelly went on to attend and graduate from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Wellness Leadership/Exercise Science. During that time he worked as an Intern in the Strength and Conditioning Department where he also later returned post-graduation to work as a Graduate Assistant Coach.

Coach Kelly has had the privilege to work with athletes as a trainer/coach/mentor for over 14 years and has worked with athletes from youth sports to the professional level. Coach Kelly has a sincere desire to be known as a coach who is consistent and is willing to serve those that he leads and works beside.

John Kelly has been married to his high school sweetheart Misty for the past 13 years. They have three children: Juliana, Jenna and Jaxson. The Kelly’s attend the First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace where they serve in the pre-school ministry together.