Jamien Sherwood’s tape forced his HS coach to alter retirement plans

Chris Kokell’s path to the defensive coordinator job at Jensen Beach High School was a windy one.  Kokell, currently of ESPN Radio 106.3 FM in West Palm Beach, FL, planned to retire from coaching after having a child just before the start of the 2016 season. That was until he received a call during SEC Media Day from Jensen Beach High School head coach Tim Caffey. Caffey told him he was looking to hire a defensive coordinator. Critically, the head coach also mentioned a talented safety Kokell could use as a matchup player. Kokell had been familiar with the Jensen Beach program as a coach in the area. Unable to ignore his intrigue, he decided to re-watch some of Jensen Beach’s defensive tape. One kid, in particular, stood out. It was the same kid Caffey had mentioned in his pitch: New York Jets now-NFL linebacker Jamien Sherwood. “Within minutes of watching Jamien’s film, I was on the phone with my wife telling her I was going to be coaching again,” Kokell told Jets X-Factor. “[I] wasn’t passing up a chance t