Douglas Hires Former American Heritage Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald

Todd Fitz-Gerald is excited about the new challenge that has been presented for him.

The former American Heritage baseball coach was announced as the new head coach at Douglas High on Tuesday.

Fitz-Gerald leaves behind a Patriots program that he helped build into a national contender over his 16 seasons at the helm, with which he won a state title for in 2008. One of his players from that championship team was Eric Hosmer, who became the highest-drafted player in Broward County history after he was selected third overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft.

“It’s a new challenge that arose rather suddenly,” said Fitz-Gerald. “American Heritage is a great school and I had a great career there. The program is left in good shape, with good young players who will keep that tradition going. Now I want to re-establish the dominance they are accustomed to at Douglas.”

Douglas Athletic Director Mitch Kaufman admitted the school interviewed many good candidates during their search to replace their own iconic coach in Dean Florio, whose contract was not renewed at the end of the season after the two sides agreed to go in separate directions.

But the decision became much easier after Fitz-Gerald became a candidate recently upon learning his contract would not be renewed at Heritage.

“Things worked out well for us; their loss is our gain,” said Kaufman. “We have a coach of good character who is dedicated and committed to taking a student-first approach. He cares about the academics first, and then baseball comes in after that. He shares the same philosophies we have for what we want in our next coach.”

Coach Fitz-Gerald had not yet spoken to his new team at the time of this interview, but he stressed that would be his first matter of business. He has plans to meet with the booster club and assess what summer programs the team is involved in. He also intends to meet with the remaining members of the existing coaching staff to see who wants to stay on, as well as considering bringing some of his own assistant coaches over with him from American Heritage.

“We want to make a good mark there and start winning championships,” said Fitz-Gerald. “Now it’s just about putting together a good staff and a good team, and then making sure the kids understand how we go about it and learn our system.”

Fitz-Gerald admits he is excited and intrigued to compete in a public-school district, and especially at the newly-designed Class 8A level.

He has lived in Coral Springs for the past 36 years and knows the enthusiasm the community has for baseball, but says the first team goal will be to win the school’s first Class 8A district title.

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