Flexbone Elite: The Top Advice From the Best Triple Option Football Academy Clients Over the Last 15 Years
April 1, 2026
You’re about to read words from coaches who were losing — badly — and then weren’t.
Not because they got better players.
Not because they moved to a softer district.
Because they made one decision.
They called Dr. Lou Cella.
Here is the elite-level advice that TOFA’s best clients have passed down over 15 years of state championships, program turnarounds, and wins nobody saw coming.
1. COMMIT TO THE SYSTEM 100% — OR DON’T BOTHER
Larry Roybal was hired as head coach at Questa (NM) in May. He immediately hired Dr. Cella. Five months later, Questa won as many games as the previous EIGHT YEARS COMBINED.
His advice is simple: “We embraced Dr. Cella’s system 100%.”
Not 80%. Not “we’ll mix it in.” One hundred percent.
The coaches who get the biggest results aren’t dabbling. They’re all in.
2. THE CAMP ELIMINATES THE 3-YEAR LEARNING CURVE
Dr. Jimmy Woods at Timmonsville (SC) said it best — and he said it after taking a 1-9 team to the state semifinals in one year with 21 players:
“The Flexbone system reduced the learning curve for those two critical factors by about 2 years.”
Most coaches spend three seasons just figuring out how to teach this offense. The TOFA camp compresses that into three days.
That’s not a marketing claim. That’s a head coach who lived it.
3. YOUR DEFENSE GETS BETTER TOO
This one surprises coaches — until they experience it.
Brock Berryhill at Scobey (MT) went from 2 wins to the state semifinals. Here’s what he noticed:
“I firmly believe that the mentality this offense creates makes your defense better.”
Trent Shelby at Hollis (OK) averaged over 400 yards per game after the TOFA camp and said: “An 8-minute drive became common for us.”
When your offense controls the clock, your defense wins the field position battle. Every time.
4. STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR ROSTER SIZE
No excuses about numbers.
Wyman King Academy (SC) dressed 14 players and went to the South Carolina State Championship.
South Border (ND) had 16 players and won four games after going two straight seasons without a win.
Odessa-Harrington (WA) had 20 players and averaged 46 points per game.
Regis (OR) had 21 players, a new head coach hired in JULY, and still made the playoffs in his first year.
Bayfield (CO) went to the state championship with an offensive line that averaged 180 pounds.
Dennis Gibson at Wyman King said it directly: “The main reason we recommend becoming one of his clients has to do with his accessibility.”
More on that in a moment.
5. THE PRACTICE STRUCTURE IS THE SECRET WEAPON
Travis Foster at Shadow Ridge (NV) led all of Nevada’s Class 4A in rushing — 305 yards per game — and pointed to one thing above the plays themselves:
“The most beneficial aspect of the Triple Option Football Academy was the practice structure Dr. Cella puts in place.”
Anthony Sottasante at Tussey Mountain (PA) went from 1 win to 8 wins in his first season as head coach and put it this way:
“Dr. Cella will increase your practice efficiency way beyond the triple option.”
You’re not just buying an offense. You’re buying a system for how to run your entire program.
6. IT CREATES IDENTITY — AND IDENTITY WINS
Matt Hoekstra at Ontario Christian (CA) went to the CIF State Quarterfinals and credited something most coaches never talk about:
“We established an Offensive Identity. We know exactly who we are, how we are going to attack our opponents, and how we will adjust. That Identity has been powerful for us as a program.”
Before TOFA — confusion. After TOFA — clarity.
Clarity wins football games.
7. DR. CELLA IS AVAILABLE 24/7 — AND HE ACTUALLY PICKS UP
This comes up in testimonial after testimonial. It’s not a tagline. It’s a pattern.
Terry Shaw at Rainier (WA) — best season in 26 years, first playoff appearance since 1991 — said the thing that impressed him most was availability.
Dennis Gibson at Wyman King called, emailed, and texted throughout the season about weight training, pregame warmups, and specific fundamentals — and received a prompt reply every time. His conclusion:
“In life we need people we can depend on. Dr. Cella promises to be there for his clients and he is true to his word.”
Ben Minturn at Bethesda Chevy Chase (MD) ran three consecutive camps with Dr. Cella — and reached the Maryland Class 4A State Quarterfinals for the first time in over 30 years. He described Dr. Cella as “available 24/7 and definitely one you want in your corner.”
8. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
Alan Ingram at Seminole County (GA) — a 40-year coaching veteran — resisted the flexbone for years. His son ran it at Riverwood. His other son coached at the Naval Academy. Still, he held off.
Then he called Lou Cella.
That season: 23 school records. An 11-2 record. 71 touchdowns. 49 points per game.
His reflection: “It is never too late to make the right decision.”
Steve Turnbaugh ran TOFA in his final coaching season at Hereford (MD), started 0-3, won his last seven games, and won the conference championship. Then he came back six years later — hired Dr. Cella again — started 0-3 again, and won his last seven games again.
Same system. Same results.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Fifteen years. Hundreds of programs. State championships in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Montana, and more. Turnarounds from 1-9 to the playoffs. First winning seasons in school history. Programs that had never done anything — doing everything.
The advice from the best TOFA clients is unanimous:
Don’t wait. Don’t dabble. Don’t try to figure this out on your own.
Call Dr. Cella. Run the camp. Trust the system.
Ready to build your program into a championship contender?
Call or text Dr. Lou Cella directly: (570) 332-0265.
