We are looking to crown the Best of the Best, the best High School Coach of All Time. The Top 32 High School coaches from several sports have been put in a single elimination bracket going head to head to claim the top prize.
The bracket will consist of four regions: Football, Basketball, Baseball/Softball and Other Sports, with Other Sports covering soccer, volleyball and anything else.
Each region has eight coaches. Each week we will release matchups for each region and let the public debate and vote for their pick. The goal is to try to persuade Andre Ellis and Corey Davis to pick who wins. At the conclusion of each week, we will show the fan vote and picks by Corey and Andre’ to decide who moves on to the next round.
Today we reveal our last region of the first round region four, our all time greatest Baseball and Softball Coaches.
Seeding
- Mike Boswell
- Gil Morales
- Don Suriano
- John Brown
- Mac Mackiewitz
- Howard May
- Jen Harmon
- Bob West
Round 1, Region 4 Baseball
Match up #1
Mike Boswell vs Bob West
Mike Boswell (Bolles)
Mike Boswell was named Class 5A Coach of the Year in the 2015-16 Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards after guiding Bolles to the program’s first state title since 2010 and seventh overall.The Bulldogs also finished 16th in the MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National Baseball Rankings and as the #1 ranked team in the state of Florida regardless of classifications according to MaxPreps.
Boswell has led the Bulldogs to two state titles in 2016 and 2017, three final four berths and five district titles.Prior to taking the Bolles job, Boswell led the Englewood Rams to the schools first state baseball title in 1999.
Bob West (BK)
As a baseball coach, the 1971 Robert E. Lee High School graduate went 532-129 overall in 23 years as a head coach (1981-84, 1985-2005), tallying one state championship (2002), 10 trips to the Final Four, 16 district titles and three state runner-up finishes (1996, 2000, 2002).
West coached seven nationally-ranked teams, had 75 players go on to sign baseball scholarships and watched seven players of the year compete under him. Six of his players went on to play Major League Baseball, while two were named All-Americans and 21 more earned All-State honors.
In terms of baseball coaching accolades, West was named the ABCA Southeastern Coach of the Year once, the Florida Coach of the Year twice, the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year once and the District Coach of the Year a whopping eight times.
[su_divider divider_color=”#3cf20b” link_color=”#3427a8″ size=”10″]
John Brown vs Mac Mackiewitz
John Brown (UC)
Longtime University Christian baseball coach John Brown compiled over 700 wins in his tenure including 9 Final Four appearances (1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1993).
Among the nine Final Four appearances the Christians accumulated three state titles ( 1978, 1979, 1990) and two state runner-up finishes (1975, 1977).
Mac Mackiewitz (Providence) (P)
Since 2004, under Mackiewitz the Stallions 13 have made the playoffs 13 of the last 14 years, made 6 Final Fours, won two state titles (2008, 2012) and finished as state runner-ups (2009, 2013).
[su_divider divider_color=”#3cf20b” link_color=”#3427a8″ size=”10″]
Don Suriano vs Howard May
Don Suriano (Bolles)
Donald Suriano coaching record stands at 559-234 with three state titles over the course of 28 seasons, and he guided his teams to 17 district titles, 10 regional crowns, 10 Final Four appearances and a state runner-up finish.
Suriano is a five-time Florida Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year and has had 60 of his players move on to collegiate or professional baseball. Aside from the victories and the accolades, he is most remembered by his former players. One of his most accomplished is former Atlanta Brace Chipper Jones.
Howard May (Parker)
In 32 years, former Parker baseball coach Howard May went 724-299, which is currently the second most wins in state history.
During his tenure, May led the Braves to four Final Final appearances (1977, 1991, 1993, 1996) including the 1991 state championship, the schools first and only to date.
Five years later, May had Braves back in the Final Four again in 1996 and brought home a state runner-up trophy.
[su_divider divider_color=”#3cf20b” link_color=”#3427a8″ size=”10″]
Gill Morales vs Jill Harmon
Gill Morales (Eagles View/Trinity)
How many coaches can say they won titles at two schools ? Thats what Gill Morales has done winning state titles at both Eagles View (2005, 2007, 2008) and Trinity (2015).
Since 2004, Morales has been to the Final Four six times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015).
Jen Harman (Bartram Trail)
Although fast pitch softball is still farely young in this area beginning in 1994, one team has dominated the area and continually makes a state run.
Under Jen Harman, Bartram Trail has won two state titles while advancing to the Final Four five times (2002, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011). This past season, Harman won her 400th career game as the Bears coach.
[su_divider divider_color=”#3cf20b” link_color=”#3427a8″ size=”10″]
So we’ve revealed all four regions of the first round! Check out the bracket below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite coaches.
