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Dante Fowler Jr.'s father tabbed as a high school head football coach

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo06/16/25Andy_Villamarzo
NFL: NFC Divisional Round-Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Jan 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (6) reacts to a tackle against Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during the first quarter in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Washington Commanders’ 2024 leading sack getter played at St. Petersburg Lakewood from 2008-11. When it comes to well-known players out of Pinellas County, Florida, the name Dante Fowler Jr. resonates almost immediately with folks out of the 727.

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders’ sack leader from the 2024 NFL season got to hear some heartfelt news to his family household on Father’s Day: His dad being named head football coach of his alma mater.

St. Petersburg Lakewood’s football program announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday morning that Dante Fowler has been officially named the Spartans’ head coach. Fowler was previously the team’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach before being officially tabbed as Lakewood’s new lead man.

‘Congratulations to our new Head Coach- Dante Fowler, Sr.

Coach Fowler has been the defensive coordinator, specializing as THE Defensive Line Coach for a number of years. He’s been involved with the Lakewood football program for over a decade; his children all played here!‘

The elder Fowler takes over for Cory Moore, who accepted a full-time position with the Los Angeles Rams as an area scout back in mid-May.

Moore took over the Spartans back in 2008 and over the next 17 years compiled an overall record of 130-69 during his time at Lakewood. He had been apart of the Rams’ scouting apprenticeship program, which landed him a Super Bowl ring when Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI in 2021.

According to a report by PrimeTime Preps, Fowler coached under Moore the last five seasons before his promoting. Fowler had also coached as an assistant at Northside Christian under former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fullback Mike Alstott and St. Petersburg Catholic, respectively.

The report also states that current NFL’ers that played at Lakewood would be coming out to help Fowler, including his son, Seattle Seahawks’ wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and and the Griffin twins, Shaquill and Shaquem, whom both played in the NFL as well.

Fowler Jr., who signed with the Dallas Cowboys this off-season, is coming off a banner season with the Commanders, who reached the NFC Conference championship game this past 2024 NFL season. The former Lakewood star compiled a team-high 10.5 sacks and will be entering his 11th season this fall.

Before entering the NFL in 2015, Fowler Jr. played at the University of Florida from 2012-2014. Fowler Jr. was named second team All-SEC as a sophomore and first team All-SEC in his junior campaign before forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

Lakewood has seen its fair share of high school talent excel beyond the prep scene, with the Spartans seeing nearly 20 players advance to football’s highest level. T.J. Tampa was the latest graduate of Lakewood to reach the NFL, selected No. 130 in the 2024 draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

The Spartans have made a name for themselves in challenging some of Florida’s top high school football teams, including national power Chaminade-Madonna Prep in 2023.