Chaminade-Madonna’s Jones and Dillard’s Gill are the Broward Overall Coaches of the Year
Absolutely dominant.
That’s a pretty appropriate way to describe how far the Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna football team was ahead of nearly all of its competition this past season under the guidance of coach Dameon Jones.
A similar description could be said for the Fort Lauderdale Dillard girls’ track and field and cross-country teams as each, under the leadership of coach Davidson Gill, secured state championships this season.
They have become two of the most successful programs not just in Broward County but the country in recent years thanks to both coaches.
And it’s why Jones and Gill are the Miami Herald’s 2023-24 Broward County Coaches of the Year.
Jones led the Lions to an unbeaten 14-0 record, their third consecutive state championship and sixth in the past eight seasons.
Chaminade also set a state record by making its eighth consecutive trip to the state finals.
But Jones led the Lions to even greater heights.
After putting together one of the most challenging schedules in the country, Chaminade ascended to a No. 2 national ranking, finishing only behind Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.
Jones has led Chaminade to 38 wins in its past 39 games and now ranks third with the most state championships all time by any Broward coach with six, behind only St. Thomas Aquinas’ Roger Harriott, who has won eight.
Gill is the Girls’ Sports Coach of the Year after pulling a rare state championship double.
In the fall, led by Runner of the Year Christiana Coleman, Gill guided the Panthers’ girls’ cross-country team to their first state championship in program history in Class 3A.
Coleman also won her first individual championship with a time of 17:53.4.
Gill, who led Dillard’s boys’ track team to its first state title in 2021, led the Panthers’ girls’ track team to its third state title overall and first since 1978. Even more impressive was Dillard ending Miami Northwestern’s 14-year run as state champions to achieve this goal.
OTHER BOYS’ SPORTS FINALISTS
▪ Roger Harriott, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas football: After losing their opening game to California powerhouse St. John Bosco, Harriott guided the Raiders to 14 consecutive victories culminating with a state-record fifth consecutive state championship. Aquinas leads the state in state championship after winning its 15th overall.
▪ Lionel Brown, Hollywood South Broward soccer: On the strength of a double-overtime victory over defending state champion Viera, the Bulldogs won their first ever state championship in the sport. It was the first state title of any kind for the school since the girls basketball team did it in 2008.
▪ Todd Fitz-Gerald, Parkland Stoneman Douglas baseball: After weathering a rough patch in the middle of the season, the Eagles course corrected and won their fourth consecutive state championship. Under the tutelage of Fitz-Gerald, Douglas has won three national championships and five state titles.
▪ Jason Hamilton, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons baseball: Hamilton guided the Chiefs to their first state championship since 1987 and second ever for the program as they beat Santa Rosa Beach South Walton for the Class 4A title.
▪ Brian Campbell, Coconut Creek North Broward Prep baseball: Campbell led the Eagles on one of the more impressive runs by any Broward school in recent years as they won their third state title in four seasons after beating Miami Westminster Christian in what was their fourth consecutive state finals appearance.
▪ Jose Roca, Pembroke Pines Charter basketball: Led by a talented senior duo of Jeremy Elyzee and Josh Harris, Roca guided the Jaguars to their second state title in four seasons.
OTHER GIRLS’ SPORTS FINALISTS
▪ Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball: Zielinski led the Raiders to their seventh state championship and first title since 2018 after a dominant run in Class 6A. Zielinski has guided Aquinas to all of those titles beginning in 1995.
▪ Johnny Bradshaw, Davie Western softball: Six years after he was part of the school’s first state title as an assistant coach, Bradshaw guided the Wildcats to their second championship after they won the Class 7A title.
▪ Oliver Berens, St. Thomas Aquinas basketball: Despite a major challenge from rival Blanche Ely, the Raiders prevailed when it counted most and Berens helped his squad continue one of the most dominant active state championship streaks in any sport as Aquinas won its fourth title in a row.
▪ Greg Farias, Plantation American Heritage basketball: A year after its run of five consecutive state titles was snapped by Daytona Beach Mainland, Farias led the Patriots back to the top as they won their sixth championship in seven seasons.
▪ Cindy Marcial, American Heritage soccer: Marcial led the Patriots to back-to-back state titles for the second time in the past decade and their sixth championship in that span. She is also 6-0 whenever Heritage advances to the final.
▪ Carol Deopsomer, St. Thomas Aquinas tennis: Deopsomer led the Raiders’ girls to their third consecutive team championship, seventh under her watch, and state-leading 16th overall.
This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
