Miami High’s Rafael Cabanzon is the Miami-Dade Boys’ Volleyball Coach of the Year

Miami High enjoyed a brief period of success in boys’ volleyball in which they made it to state for the first time over a decade ago.

When Rafael Cabanzon went back to his alma mater to coach three years ago, his goal was to restore it to contender status among the state’s best.

But this time, Cabanzon hoped it would be something more sustainable if achieved.

So far, so good.

The Stingarees made their second consecutive appearance at the state tournament this season. Miami High ended up with the same final result as last season after losing in the state quarterfinals.

But under the tutelage of Cabanzon, the Stingarees took a step further this season when they won their first GMAC championship and finished with a dominant 24-7 record.

It’s why Cabanzon is the Miami Herald’s Boys’ Volleyball Coach of the Year for this season.

“There’s a lot of shock because a lot of people didn’t expect this to happen since it’s been forever since they’ve made noise like this,” Cabanzon said after leading Miami High to state in 2021. “We’ve always been a program that’s good like this for a year or two and then disappear for like five or six years. We’re trying to make it different this time. It’s not just about winning a championship. It’s about creating a legacy.”

Miami High made strides this season which could go a long way toward setting a solid foundation for its future. The Stingarees beat longtime powerhouse Southwest Miami twice including a win in the GMAC final, and repeated as district champions before falling to eventual state champions Winter Park.

The Stingarees’ core of six seniors led by Boys Volleyball Player of the Year Denzel Madrigal led them to consecutive 20-plus wins seasons.

The real test for Cabanzon begins next season.

Losing that core of players which includes Cabanzon’s younger brother, Gabriel, the team’s starting setter, will make it difficult for the Stingarees to reload and keep the run going.

But Cabanzon believes something special was built over the past three years and the fact Miami High now regularly beats or contends with the best of the best statewide will keep the Stingarees in the hunt and one of the county’s most talented teams.

“When we started we didn’t have much of a team and didn’t know how to play,” Madrigal said. “We’ve started something here (at Miami High).”