Miami Pace hires boys’ basketball coach in a bid to return to glory

Jean-Camille Dubuisson II is ready to restore Miami Monsignor Pace among the state’s elite boys’ basketball programs. On Wednesday, Dubuisson, a fixture in the South Florida high school and college coaching community for more 15 years, accepted the head coaching position with the Spartans, who became a national powerhouse under former coach Mark Lieberman.

“It really feels good to be back coaching high school basketball in South Florida.” Dubuisson said. “I have been missing it for a while. Although the junior college level of coaching and play has made me become a better coach, I’ve always had an itch to get back to high school one day. Pace has been a prestigious institution as far as I could remember, my brother played here and won a state championship here in 1999.”

Dubuisson will use his wealth of coaching experience to try and turn around around a program in dire needed of a spark after finishing 7-15 last season. Dubuisson first made a name for himself as the lead assistant at Miramar from 2005 to 2011, before leaving to take the head coaching position at Hallandale High School and then launching the ASA College mens’ basketball program in 2014, where he stayed for six seasons.

Dubuisson said the first order of business is making Miami Pace an attractive landing spot for top talent again. A big part of that mission will be building a relationship with parents. Dubuisson said he will also continue to tap into his coaching mentors — Miami Norland’s Lawton Williams (six state titles) and Melvin Randall (state record nine state titles).

“I’m just trying to restore that pedigree and tradition that has allowed Pace to win 5 state titles,” Dubuisson added. “Coaches like Joe Dawson and Mark Lieberman have paved the way for such a high standard. Miami Pace principal [Ana] Garcia, dean [Maria] Walker, dean [Valarie] Lloyd, and athletic director [Tom] Duffin have accepted me with open arms and now I must deliver.”