Hofman Inducted Into Broward County Sports Hall Of Fame

For University School manager Rich Hofman, there’s not much left to accomplish in his coaching career. Back in 1969, Hofman was just a young coach when he took the job at Westminster Christian in Miami. More than 43 years later, Hofman found himself on a different stage Tuesday night when he was inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame.

Hundreds were on hand for a ceremony that saw Hofman, former Dolphins great Bob Brudzinski, former Hurricanes and Marlins catcher Charles Johnson, St. Thomas Aquinas soccer coach Carlos Giron, table tennis/paralympics star Terese Teeranova and aquatics pioneer Stu Marvin join the growing list of Broward sports immortals.

Brudzinski and Johnson received the loudest applause of the night for their careers on South Florida’s pro sports teams, and Hofman got a rousing ovation when he mentioned in his speech that he had once coached Johnson.

While athletes and coaches from other sports were being honored, it was the baseball tandem of Johnson and Hofman that stirred the most passionate memories. Johnson spoke of how he turned down $200,000 from the Montreal Expos, instead choosing to play at The U. The catching legend also spoke of how his father helped lead him away from the money and towards an education at Miami.

When it was Hofman’s turn, he eloquently thanked each of his guests in attendance individually, and spoke of how his faith had allowed him the opportunity to have such an illustrious career. As is the case with any coach, sometimes with the demands at school, family is neglected, and Hofman made a point to thank his wife, Jo, who has stood by him and allowed him to reach this plateau selflessly.

Presenting Hofman on this night was his son, Dave Hofman. While speaking, the younger Hofman laid out a five-point plan on how his father had become successful. Chief among those points were an unrelenting work ethic, impeccable organization skills and a knowledge of the game matched by only a few who have come before him.

Through his career, Hofman has become the only manager in Florida high school history to reach 1,000 wins. He accomplished that feat last year in a win against Pope John Paul II. At the time, future Major League Hall of Famer Alex Rodriguez told High School Baseball Network what his former Westminster coach means to him, even today.

“Coach Hofman’s lessons still impact me today,” said Rodriguez. “He was a great motivator who stressed loyalty and respect, and took pride in his responsibilities to his players.”

The responsibility to his players was a blueprint for the most state titles ever in Florida. Hofman won eight with the Warriors, including one Rodriguez’s senior year. When Hofman left Westminster Christian, he continued his success at Westminster Academy in Broward. Hofman won five consecutive state titles between the two schools from 1996-2000.

In addition to the Broward Hall of Fame that he entered Tuesday, Hofman is a member of five other Hall of Fames, was named the Coach of the Decade from Baseball America in the ’90s and has been named National Coach of the year seven times.

“The baseball is fun,” said Hofman during his speech. “But it’s the personal relationships that make it all worth while. That’s where the satisfaction comes in.”

Hofman joins former St. Thomas manager Ed Waters and Nova manager Pat McQuaid as the only three high school baseball coaches in the Broward Sports Hall of Fame.

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