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St. Thomas Aquinas names Roger Harriott as head coach
PUBLISHED
Thu, Mar 5, 2015 5:18 PM
FT. LAUDERDALE (Florida) -- State powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas has named Roger Harriott as the Raiders' new head football coach.
What had been the talk on Florida's gridiron scene and the twitterverse, became reality as Roger Harriott becomes St. Thomas Aquinas' third football coach in the last 39 years, following state champion head coaches Rocco Casullo and Hall of Fame coaching legend George Smith.
Roger Harriott built the University School of Nova Southeastern from inception in 2006 to a program which capture Florida's Class 3A State Title in 2012.
Coach Harriott resigned earlier this year as Florida Atlantic's running back coach, shortly after the Owls reeled in an impressive 2015 recruiting class. Harriott, in his only year at FAU, was widely known as one of the top recruiters in the Conference USA.
Rocco Casullo led Aquinas to 2 state championship in his 4 year term. He, like his predecessor George Smith, resigned at the top, after winning a state title for the Raiders. When Casullo resigned in January and the Aquinas' head coaching position had been vacant, many speculated that Roger Harriott would be the best fit to lead the powerhouse and defending state champ.
Harriott led University School to a Class 3A State Title in 2013, and another state championship appearance in which his Suns fell short 56-55 in a heart tugging triple overtime loss to Ocala Trinity Catholic in 2010.
Many of Harriott's former University School players transferred after his departure, splitting either to St. Thomas Aquinas or Plantation American Heritage. Both Aquinas and Heritage are reigning state champions in the Sunshine State, with significant contributions from Harriott's previous players from University School.
Coach Harriott is a leader of young men and will prove a great fit to lead one of the nation's storied programs. His work at University School spoke for itself and translated well when he became RB coach at FAU under Charlie Partridge. Where character, academia, and athetlics are all same line, as they are at St. Thomas Aquinas, Harriott will continue to lead a culture of excellence.
What had been the talk on Florida's gridiron scene and the twitterverse, became reality as Roger Harriott becomes St. Thomas Aquinas' third football coach in the last 39 years, following state champion head coaches Rocco Casullo and Hall of Fame coaching legend George Smith.
Roger Harriott built the University School of Nova Southeastern from inception in 2006 to a program which capture Florida's Class 3A State Title in 2012.
Coach Harriott resigned earlier this year as Florida Atlantic's running back coach, shortly after the Owls reeled in an impressive 2015 recruiting class. Harriott, in his only year at FAU, was widely known as one of the top recruiters in the Conference USA.
Rocco Casullo led Aquinas to 2 state championship in his 4 year term. He, like his predecessor George Smith, resigned at the top, after winning a state title for the Raiders. When Casullo resigned in January and the Aquinas' head coaching position had been vacant, many speculated that Roger Harriott would be the best fit to lead the powerhouse and defending state champ.
Harriott led University School to a Class 3A State Title in 2013, and another state championship appearance in which his Suns fell short 56-55 in a heart tugging triple overtime loss to Ocala Trinity Catholic in 2010.
Many of Harriott's former University School players transferred after his departure, splitting either to St. Thomas Aquinas or Plantation American Heritage. Both Aquinas and Heritage are reigning state champions in the Sunshine State, with significant contributions from Harriott's previous players from University School.
Coach Harriott is a leader of young men and will prove a great fit to lead one of the nation's storied programs. His work at University School spoke for itself and translated well when he became RB coach at FAU under Charlie Partridge. Where character, academia, and athetlics are all same line, as they are at St. Thomas Aquinas, Harriott will continue to lead a culture of excellence.
