2020 campaign will be McQuaid’s last at Nova
After 44 years at the helm of the Nova baseball program, Pat McQuaid announced that he intends to retire at the end of the 2020 season.
McQuaid, who announced the decision in a letter posted to Facebook, has been the Titans head coach since 1976. He has won 941 games, 18 district titles, two state championships and a national title.
“It has been a wonderful career, and I want to thank everyone for creating memories that I will cherish forever,” McQuaid wrote. “Throughout the years with the help of alumni, parents, players and friends of the program, we have built a history, a tradition and a baseball complex like no other in the state of Florida.”
McQuaid, a Nova alumnus who has taught at the school for 48 years, and the Titans went 21-5 last season, advancing to the Class 8A regional semifinals before falling to McArthur.
McQuaid won back-to-back Class 5A state championships in 2004 and 2005.
McQuaid has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Florida High School Ath
letic Association Hall of Fame, Broward County Sports Hall of Fame and Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has coached multiple generations of players who have come through the program.
Several professional players came from McQuaid’s program, including 12-year major-leaguer and World Series champion Mike Morse and pitcher Anthony Swarzak.
McQuaid also coached Nova’s football team from 1978-1982.
“I hope your years at Nova were rewarding and we provided you the building blocks for success, maturity and citizenship,” McQuaid wrote. “I tried to make your experience at Nova special. I always believed that success starts with a dream, a vision and a plan, and this becomes a reality with passion and hard work. Through the years we have built a history, a tradition, and created a lifetime of memories.”
In his letter, McQuaid asked for donations to provide new lockers for the baseball program.
“In closing
Iwould like to thank everyone who has helped make Nova Titan Baseball special,” McQuaid wrote. “I will never forget the sacrifices, your hard work and your belief that we could do great things. Whenever I have a free moment I will escape to the special memories of you, Nova Titan Baseball, and the great games vs. St Thomas. Please share all this information with anyone that is a former Titan or follows Titan Baseball.”