McCarthy’s Perez, NBP’s Coughenour are Broward Volleyball Coaches of the Year
North Broward Prep’s Brian Coughenour and Archbishop McCarthy’s Robert Perez each led their respective girls’ volleyball teams to historic seasons in 2025.
North Broward Prep had long been one of the better programs in Broward County. Under Coughenour’s leadership, the Eagles became one of the most talented teams in the state.
That ascension culminated with the school’s first state championship.
Meanwhile, McCarthy has been pushing closer and closer to a state title in recent years. The Mavericks made their breakthrough to the state tournament for the time this season in Class 5A.
And so, Coughenour and Perez are this year’s Miami Herald Broward County Girls’ Volleyball Coaches of the Year.
Under Coughenour’s leadership, the Eagles went 26-2, won district and regional titles for the first time since 2010 and secured the school’s first state title after a dramatic five-set win over Merritt Island in the Class 4A final.
A deep squad led by Miami Herald 4A-1A Co-Player of the Year Dasia Johnson, Destiny Wiggins, Yasmin Dias Tonon and Emma Luehrs, kept things consistent throughout the season.
“It was a super-great class with a lot of seniors and it made my life a lot easier,” Coughenour said after the triumph at state. “The previous coach kind of set me up and everything worked out perfectly. And I’m in it for the long haul.”
Perez’s squad came up one victory short of the state final four a year earlier against Miami Lourdes Academy in the regional finals.
A year later, the Mavericks hosted Lourdes on its home court and controlled the majority of their four-set victory that clinched the school’s first trip to state.
McCarthy advanced to the state finals in Class 5A before falling against powerhouse Tallahassee Chiles in three sets.
Still, led by transfer Juliana Lugo, the Mavericks went 28-4 and secured district and regional titles.
“Just getting here to the finals was such a big jump for us,” Perez said at state. “Sure, we would have loved to take it to four sets or five sets, but that’s a strong team.”
