Mainland’s Roland, New Smyrna Beach’s McRae top coaches at Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards

The show was produced with support from Halifax Health. 

Other boys coach finalists were Rick Darlington of DeLand football and Mark Grose of Spruce Creek golf. Other girls coach finalists were Dina Pinson of DeLand golf and Brandon Stewart of Mainland basketball. 

A captain on the first Volusia County high school football team to win a state championship in 2003, Roland coached his alma mater to the area’s second title last December, almost 20 years to the day later. His Mainland Buccaneers completed a 14-1 season by beating St. Augustine 21-19 in the Class 3S finals. They avenged their 2022 loss in the state finale with a walk-off field goal by Jacob Gettman.  

For the first time in his coaching career, Roland focused most of his attention on the offensive side of the ball after his previous offensive coordinator left for a college job during the offseason. The unit averaged 34.5 points per game in 2023. Mainland’s defense allowed only 12.6 per game and featured two All-Americans.