COACHING STAFF

Marvin Biggins – Varsity Assistant

Steve Cherry – JV Head/Varsity Assistant

Tony Cortese– JV/Varsity Assistant

Major Whitlow–JV/Varsity Assistant

Profiles

Rick Davis

Head Coach

Hometown: Quincy, FL
High School: Florida A&M University High School (1990)
College: Florida A&M University
Playing Experience:
High School
Big Bend Player of the Year (1990)
All State Selection (1990)

College: Florida A&M University 1991–95
MEAC Leading Scorer 1994-95
Professional: Internationally (1996-2001)

Coaching Experience:
Florida A&M High School 2006-09
2008-09 District Champion, Region I Runner Up
1A Coach of the Year
2007-08 Region I Champion, District Runner Up
Assistant Coach: Amos P. Godby High 2002-06
Head Coach: BelleVue Middle School 2001-06

Entering his third season as the Lion’s Head Coach, Davis prides himself in building a competitive and respectable basketball program. He believes that being involved in the game of basketball is an integral part of the development of the person as a whole. It allows student-athletes to experience and develop life skills i.e.; self-discipline, leadership, responsibility, teamwork and pride. In addition, his ultimate goal is to promote and pursue academic excellence through encouraging student-athletes to maintain a positive self image. Davis is excited about rebuilding Leon High School Boys Basketball Program, which offers a place where individuals can emphasize on achieving high standards based upon old tradition of pride and excellence.

Davis and his wife Tiffany are the proud parents of three sons: Trejan, Tajden and Tyren.

Marvin Biggins

Assistant Varsity Coach

Born in Tallahassee, FL Coach Biggins played basketball and graduated from Amos P. Godby High earning Big Bend Honors in 1987. He played collegiate basketball at Stillman College in Tuscalusa, AL earning his B.A. degree in Physical Education in 1992. Shortly after, he began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Stillman College (1992). Later, he was inducted into Stillman’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. After returning to Tallahassee, Biggins served as an Assistant JV coach (2001-2004), and Head JV coach (2005) at Godby High School. He also worked with Coach Davis as the assistant varsity coach at Florida A&M University High School (2006-2008). Last year, Biggins served as the assistant coach at Raa Middle School (2008-2009), where the team captured the County Middle School Championship. He is excited about the opportunity to work with the Leon High School Boys Basketball Program

Biggins and his wife Tracey are the proud parents of two sons: Marvin Jr. and Tyler.

Steve Cherry

JV Head Coach, Assistant Varsity Coach

Steve Cherry begins his first year as Head JV Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach for the lions. He has spent the last three years serving as a basketball skills trainer for True Training Systems; a local athletic training agency. Steve specializes in developing talent and teaching skills to players from grassroots level to the professional level.

Originally from Fort Valley, Georgia, Steve became familiar with Tallahassee in 2002 after signing a scholarship to play for Tallahassee Community College.

As a player, he received Freshman of the Year honors, named the Florida Juco All-Region Team, Panhandle Player of the Year Runner-up, and in 2004 he became the 7th player in the school's history to be named First Team All-Conference twice. After two years at TCC, Steve transferred to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. During his two year stint with the Mocs, he helped the team reach their third and fourth Conference Championship games. In 2005, Chattanooga was winners of their conference and received a NCAA March Madness tournament bid to set up a first round matchup against NBA player Chris Paul and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Steve has also participated in highly successful organizations as a professional player. He spent two years playing in Europe and a year in the American Basketball Association.

From 2008-2010, Steve served as an Assistant Boy's Middle School Coach for Tallahassee's own R. Frank Nims. Later in 2010, he was offered to join the coaching staff at Godby High School, where he served as Assistant Coach for both JV and Varsity teams. Steve is also involved with one of the top premier AAU organizations in the state, Nike Team Florida.

Steve is a dedicated and passionate individual; he is committed to bringing forth the maximum potential in each athlete on and off the court. He hopes to establish a mentoring relationship with players that will help build character, integrity, self-value and discipline.

Steve is married to Tallahassee native, Yashika Cherry. They have three kids: Cortez, Cameron and Kennedy.

Tony Cortese

Assistant JV Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach

A graduate of Florida State University Coach Cortese was a four year varsity starter on the basketball team at Seven Rivers Christian School. The school Salutatorian, Cortese also played golf and soccer at Seven Rivers. He has served as the head coach of the 14U and 15U Tallahassee Spurs AAU team since 2008 and an assistant coach for the Leon JV team beginning in 2008-09 season. Cortese believes that coaching offers the unique opportunity to watch players mature and grow, on and off the court. He looks forward to seeing the program regain its pride and tradition.

Cortese is married to Ashley Cortese.

Major Whitlow

Assistant JV Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach

Coach Whitlow moved to Tallahassee in November of 1990. Found a love for kids and began coaching in 1995 with his Church by Coaching Flag Football to 10-13 year old kids in the surrounding community. His coaching career jump started to several community and city wide teams. He has been coaching Boys Basketball for RAA Middle School in Tallahassee Florida from 2002 – present day where he has won the middle school championship twice and runners up four times. He was an assistant coach with Godby High School from 2004- 2006 where he was the head coach of the Boys JV Basketball team. His athletic community involvement includes the following:

Major is the founder of Up Tempo, Inc. a non-profit corporation that teaches strength, character, accountability, and work ethic second to none through basketball. Currently Coach Whitlow has started a new company, TurnKey Property Preservation that serves the state of Florida located in Tallahassee. Coach Whitlow has been serving the Tallahassee and surrounding areas for over 20 years.

Coach Whitlow is married to Danya Whitlow with two daughters and a son; C. Taylor Whitlow, Ryan G. Whitlow and Major E. Whitlow III.