Time to return

I’m back.

It’s been a phenomenal summer break for me.

I went to Las Vegas for a week to catch up with my buddies from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, met the cast from Ultimate Fighter 7, sat ringside for UFC 84 and saw comedy concerts by Dane Cook and the legendary Robin Williams.

I went to Orlando for some time at the Disney and Universal parks, where I got to experience the new Simpsons ride. (Woo-hoo, it’s new.)

 I relaxed at home and had my bathrooms renovated.

Oh, and I followed a wacky summer of high school news from afar.

First, let me congratulate Lawal McCray for getting the head football job at Blanche Ely. McCray was at Boyd Anderson earlier in his career, so he brings experience working with talented athletes. In other football news, Hollywood Christian selected former Belen assistant coach Tammorris Wooten as its new coach, and Highlands Christian coach Morgan Haut recently resigned.

There was movement in other circles as well.

Cooper City softball coach Kerry Kelly resigned. She will be missed. I don’t think it’s a secret to many within the coaching community that Kerry is a friend of mine. It’s no surprise because she is a friend to many across Broward. It will definitely be odd attending a Cowboys game next spring without her in the dugout.

Other coaches are rumored to be moving as well, although I cannot violate promises I made to keep things quiet until changes are official. No rumors here, but some high-profile coaches in a variety of sports could soon change spots. One who did already was Douglas girls’ soccer coach Scott Baker, who moved north to Palm Beach County as an athletic director. Boys’ coach Stu Katz, who I project will do very well in his new role, slides over to coach the girls. Dennis Rodrigues, Laura Rountree’s longtime assistant at Douglas, took over the boys’ soccer program at new school West Broward.

West Broward also attracted longtime successful baseball Mike Moss (Chaminade, Taravella). Chaminade AD Paul Herfurth, an established and successful baseball coach himself, will add the baseball job to his duties with the Lions program.

Yes, you may need a scorecard to tell who is who next year, but it’s already an exciting summer. The long break was nice, but it’s time to get back to work. High school football season is upon us.