Since May, J.R. Tolver's commute to work changed. He moved to Oceanside to be closer to family in San Diego, where he grew up.
The drive to where he works, Sage Hill School, isn't too bad, taking him 40 minutes to get to the Newport Coast campus. The drive allows him to collect his thoughts, analyze and plan his day as the school's football coach.
These days, like most high school football coaches before the season kicks off, Tolver has a lot on his mind. What he thinks about most is how his team will improve from last year's forgettable season.
Before he starts his car, Tolver said he has put the program's first winless season in the rearview mirror.
"I'm cautiously optimistic," Tolver said of his fifth season in charge of the Lightning. "Coming off an 0-10 season, you want to be honest about where you're coming from and what you're coming off of.