Belen’s Ruiz and Doral’s Barrios are the Dade Overall Coaches of the Year
Belen Jesuit’s Frankie Ruiz has helped build one of the most successful and dominant programs in the country, not just in boys’ cross-country, but any sport.
And at Doral Academy, Daniela Barrios helped elevate a girls’ basketball program on the rise to a breakthrough season.
Ruiz and Barrios are this year’s Miami Herald Overall Coaches of the Year for Miami-Dade County.
Ruiz is the recipient for Boys’ Sports after guiding the Wolverines to their ninth consecutive state championship and their 17th overall.
Both are state records.
The Wolverines have seven more state titles than the next closest school, Largo, which has 10. The title streak is nearly double the next longest held by Tallahassee Maclay (5).
And Belen continued to finish among the top 10 programs in the country under Ruiz’s guidance.
Belen also had its eighth individual state championship all-time when Marcelo Mantecon repeated as the winner of the Class 3A state meet in Tallahassee in November.
Mantecon and several others are set to return next season, making Belen the favorite to make it a full decade at the top.
Barrios, the Girls’ Sports Coach of the Year, has been part of the Firebirds’ program since its infancy when she first played at Doral in the sixth grade. She returned as an assistant coach in recent years and became head coach this past season after Allison Bustamante became the head coach at Barry University.
After advancing to the state final four each of the past two seasons, Barrios led the Firebirds to their first ever state championship in Class 7A. Doral culminated its triumph with a victory in the state finals against defending champion Winter Haven.
BOYS’ SPORTS FINALISTS
Kameron Clark, Columbus soccer: Led the Explorers on a stellar run to their first state championship since 2014, which included a thrilling regional final win over perennial contender Weston Cypress Bay..
Jonathan Rosas, Downtown Doral soccer: The Dolphins’ formidable and experienced group won its first ever state championship when it took home the Class 3A crown.
Jorge Milo, Columbus basketball: Despite losing the star duo of Cameron and Cayden Boozer to graduation, the Explorers reloaded and secured a state-record fifth consecutive state championship.
Mike Manasco, Palmetto football: After years of struggling to overcome some of its top rivals, the Panthers broke through with a regional championship and a berth in the Class 7A state semifinals.
Ariel Cribeiro, Goleman football: The Gators made school history with their first ever appearance in the Class 7A regional finals after winning two playoff games for the first time.
Ralph Mata, Miami Country Day basketball: The boys’ program made history by advancing to the state final for the first time after dethroning three-time reigning state champion Riviera Prep in the regional finals.
Daniel Thews, Columbus volleyball: The Explorers also broke through with their first ever state championship after sweeping both of their opponents at state.
Jonathan Losada, True North volleyball: The Titans secured their first ever state championship in a team sport by winning the Class 1A crown.
GIRLS’ SPORTS FINALISTS
David Fique, Lourdes soccer: Led the Bobcats to their first state championship since 2020 after coming up short in the state final in four of the previous five seasons.
Ochiel Swaby, Miami Country Day basketball: The Spartans kept their dynasty rolling by winning their fourth consecutive state title and 11th overall over the past 14 seasons.
Vince Hall, Edison flag football: The Red Raiders became the first Miami-Dade County team to win back-to-back state championships after winning the Class 1A title.
Sarah Smith, Mater Lakes swimming: The Bears won their first ever state team championship a year after the boys’ team won its first.
Jorge Perez, Divine Savior volleyball: Led the Sharks to the state final four in Class 2A for the first time since 2018, going 29-2 and ending Westminster Christian’s run of six consecutive seasons advancing to the state finals.
