Miami Northwestern (Fla.) tabs interim head football coach

With Teddy Bridgewater returning to the NFL and signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Northwestern needed to move quickly on naming a new head football coach ahead of the 2025 season.

On Tuesday, the Bulls have tabbed alum Jaquatin Victrum, who is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, as the program’s interim head football coach for the 2025 season. Victrum had previously served as Miami Northwestern’s junior varsity head coach before being promoted on an interim basis to the lead position for the Bulls this fall.

Victrum, who played defensive back at Clark Atlanta in 2017, will have his hands full taking on one of the premier head coaching jobs in the Sunshine State, as many view Miami Northwestern as arguably the most put together team in Florida heading into 2025.

Taking over Miami Northwestern after weeks of speculation on whether Bridgewater was going to be allowed to return or not remained a steady cloud over the team.

What still remains to be figured out is whether the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), which is still gathering information regarding an allegation about the Bulls, hands down any sanctions to Miami Northwestern.

It remains an open case ahead of the 2025 season, which looks to be monitored how the Gainesville-based association decides to handle the allegation if they find any wrongdoings.

About Miami Northwestern

Expectations remain extremely high for the Bulls this season, regardless of whomever is leading the program.

Returning starting quarterback Leon Strawder is back after leading Northwestern to last year’s Class 3A state championship and will have five-star Syracuse commit Calvin Russell and FAU pledge Nicsaint Joseph challenging every defensive secondary on the schedule. Northwestern’s defense is just as talented and has future Power Four players at all three levels, with Texas commit James Johnson and Miami commit Jordan Campbell leading the charge up in the front seven. Future Pitt Panther Desmond Johnson is set to anchor the team’s athletic linebacking corps, while Florida State pledge Tedarius Hughes patrols the defensive back four.

The Bulls finished 12-2 last year and enter the 2025 season ranked No. 4 in Florida, according to the Massey Ratings. They will open the preseason up against Lakeland on Aug. 16 in Vero Beach before a high-profile interstate matchup against California powerhouse Orange Lutheran on Aug. 23 at the legendary Traz Powell Stadium.