- April 26, 2024
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Washington hopes to continue to move up in the coaching ranks to either college or the NFL. Photo by Elijah Washington
Charlie Washington with his wife, Michal and sons, Kaevon and Elijah Photo by Jeff Dawsey
The Washington boys get in some football time before Charlie heads back to Miami. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Washington and his Red Wolves organization celebrate their first-round draft pick. Courtesy photo
Washington was able to draft three players from his Flagler Knights organization, including Palm Coaster Sammie Cooper. Courtesy photo
Charlie Washington’s attempt to hide from his kids Kaevon and Elijah that he had returned home after a weeklong stay in Miami was futile on early Tuesday morning. Before they headed to school, they woke him up and swarmed him, and it was OK with dad.
Washington has seen very little of his family or Palm Coast ever since he became the Florida Red Wolves’ head football coach in the Rivals Professional Football League.
“Thanks to social media, we get to see each other and share activities on FaceTime every day,” Washington said. “Sometimes, I get homesick because there not there with me.”
Now, as a professional coach, Washington has walked into a whole other world of football he had not been aware of. Previously, he could post his personal opinions to social media. Washington could dress as he wanted, when he coached
“It’s been a huge transition, but no obstacle is too large for the Washingtons.”
MICHAL WASHINGTON
little league or his Flagler Knights. Not so anymore.
“If you don’t act the part of a head coach in this league, you’ll get sent home,” he said. “And, it’s not just the dressing part. It’s everything that goes into being a coach. It took me getting this opportunity to know that I’ve really been soft on my guys.”
Behind every great man…
With Washington now spending most of his time in Miami, his wife, Michal, has stepped up to control the Knights as general manager and run the home while maintaining her full-time job.
“I got a strong woman,” Washington said, with a big smile on his face. “She’s taking care of everything. My kids are good, and our team is doing really well. She’s running the Knights a lot smoother than I ran it.”
While she makes it seem effortless, Michal admits that their current position is challenging.
“It’s a lot of craziness,” she laughed, “but it’s all about balance. Of course, some days are harder than others, but that’s OK, because I definitely have a lot of support and help. I have always supported my husband’s dreams, and I know this is the right step in his career path. It’s been a huge transition, but no obstacle is too large for the Washingtons.”
Washington was able to draft three of his Flagler Knights (Sammie Cooper, Marcus Mitchell, Steven Mosely and Sammie Cooper) while another (David Collier) was taken by another team.
“It’s a testament to what I’ve been saying to them since day No. 1,” Washington said. “I don’t promise things that I can’t deliver. I told them that if they joined the Knights, I would do my best to get them more opportunities. I’m driving to Miami to do what I think is going to put me in a better situation to help not only my family but my players as well.”
Washington recently led his team — the Florida Red Wolves — to a 36-12 season-opening win over the Atlantic Sharks on Saturday, March 25, in Hialeah.
