Former St. Thomas Aquinas Head Coach George Smith to Talk About Showdown with De La Salle on NHSCA Sports Hour

by Jeff Fisher

High School Football America

There's a big football game in Florida Friday night between two of the best high school football programs in America.

De La Salle (Concord, CA) High School will square-off with St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) on ESPN.

Joining me on tomorrow night's NHSCA Sports Hour to talk about the showdown is STA athletic director George Smith, who is the 2011 National High School Coaches Association's National High School Football Coach of the Year.

Had Smith not retired from coaching earlier this year, the showdown would have featured two of America's legendy coaches. De La Salle is led by Bob Ladouceur, who led the Spartans on that incredible 151-game win streak that began in the early-90's and ended in 2004. Ladouceur owns an incredible record of 375-24-3.

Smith stepped away from the sidelines after 34 years of building the Raiders into a Florida and national power. Smith's career record before handing the program's reigns over to Rocco Casullo was 361-66 with six state titles and two "mythical" national championships.  Ladouceur has led the Spartans to seven "mythical" national titles.

On May 1st on the NHSCA Sports Hour, I spoke with Casullo, the team's former defensive coordinator, about taking over for a legend. Click here to listen to that interview.

St. Thomas Aquinas enters the game ranked #4 by MaxPreps.com, while De La Salle is at #10.

Tune-in tomorrow night starting at 6PM EDT to listen to my interview with Coach Smith.  Click here to listen LIVE.

St. Thomas Aquinas' George Smith Named National High School Coaches Association 2011 Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The man who built St. Thomas Aquinas into a Florida and then a national high school football power has been named the 2011 National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

George Smith, who retired earlier this year after 34 years of leading the Raiders, becomes the 12th high school football coach honored by the non-profit organization based in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Smith, who is still the school's athletic director, led St. Thomas Aquinas to a record of 361-66 and six Florida state championships, plus two mythical national titles.

Earlier this year, former defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo was named as Smith's successor.

Click here to see the full list of 20 coaches honored by the National High School Coaches Association.

St. Thomas Aquinas Legendary Coach Steps Down

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The man who built St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale) into a Florida and national high school football power is stepping down after 34 years of coaching.

George Smith's number are mind boggling...a career record of 361-66 for an incredible winning percentage of .845, six state championships and two "mythical" national championships.  Then there are the hundred of kids he sent into the college ranks, plus 30 former players who made it to the NFL.

The school has announced that defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo is the Raiders new head coach.