Big changes are coming to Virginia high school football, and Churchland High School is at the center of the action. The Truckers have found their new leader, and it didn't take long for the hire to make waves.
Malik Sexton, who most recently served as head coach at Glen Allen High School, has been named the new head football coach at Churchland in Portsmouth, Virginia. The move, first reported by Matthew Hatfield of VaPreps.com, brings a proven winner back to familiar territory.
Sexton is no stranger to the Truckers' program. In fact, he was a standout quarterback for Churchland during his playing days, earning Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year and Conference 17 Player of the Year honors before moving on to play collegiately at Virginia State. Now, he returns to lead the program he once helped define.
His coaching resume speaks for itself. In just two seasons at Glen Allen, Sexton compiled a 15-8 record, with his 2024 campaign being the highlight—a 10-2 finish that included a trip to the VHSL postseason. What's even more impressive is that four of his eight losses came by a touchdown or less, showing his teams were always in the fight. The Jaguars' 2024 season was the best in program history under his direction.
At Churchland, Sexton inherits a program that has been a consistent winner. The Truckers have posted winning records in six of the last seven seasons, dating back to 2019. This past season, they finished 7-4 and ranked No. 78 in the state according to the final Virginia 2025 High School Football Massey Rankings.
He replaces Dontrell Leonard, who stepped down during the offseason to take the same position at Virginia Beach's Bayside High School.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism in Churchland? The offense. The Truckers return Class of 2028 quarterback prospect Logan Wynne, who lit up the stat sheet last season with 2,768 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. With Sexton's offensive mind and quarterback background, the connection between coach and signal-caller could be electric.
For fans of Virginia high school football, this is a storyline worth following. Sexton's return to his alma mater adds a layer of legacy and excitement to a program already on solid footing. As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on the Truckers to see how this homecoming plays out on the gridiron.