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‘Hard act to follow’ - Anderson tempers expectations on coaching task at Clarendon College
June 17, 2025
Newly appointed head coach of Clarendon College's daCosta Cup team, Devon Anderson, says he will not be looking to fill the boots of Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde, but will try to put his own unique mark on the many-time champions.
After eight glorious years, Hyde departed his beloved alma mater to take up the reins at Dinthill Technical High School.
While at Clarendon College, Hyde led the school to four daCosta Cup and four Olivier Shield title successes.
This means Anderson has a tough act to follow. But the former Holy Trinity High and Hydel High coach believes the Chapelton-based school will continue to be a force to be reckoned with under his watch.
"I have taken on this task, which is not an easy task," Anderson told STAR Sports.
"It is a hard act to follow and I am not going to try and follow it. I will try to put my footprint in the sand alongside those who have gone before, and try to make a positive impact on the school where football is concerned," he said.
Clarendon College, which last won the daCosta Cup and Olivier Shield in 2023, developed a dominant, ball-possession style under Hyde.
Anderson does not think his philosophy is that much different from his predecessor, and believes that with much of the backroom staff still in place, he does not expect a big switch from the style of play local football fans have come to admire and expect from Clarendon College.
"My philosophy of football is let the ball do the work. And as far as I have seen, their philosophy is the same," he assessed.
"They are a ball playing team and I am a ball playing coach. So I don't think it will be much of a problem combining what I know with what they have there and trying to make it work.
"They have their people in place and I am just an addition to what they have there, so nothing much will change," he insisted.
Anderson, who finalised his agreement with the school late last week, said he is not yet familiar with the squad and wants to temper expectations going into his first daCosta Cup campaign.
Nevertheless, he said his aim is to at least maintain the team's high standards.
"I don't know much about the team. All I know is that the squad is very young. It's a young team, it's more of a rebuilding process. But I am one of the coaches known for playing young players, so whoever is there it doesn't really matter," he said.
"I am not going there to make a statement. I am going there to put my craft to work. I am not making any promises for the first season. I am going to learn a new culture, learn how they do things that side, and try to put my bits and pieces together, and at the end of the season may the chips fall where they may."
