OLSM hires Gonzales to take over program
Former AllState Orchard Lake St. Mary’s quarterback Jermaine Gonzales has taken the reins of the Eaglets’ tradition-rich football program.
The 40-year-old Gonzales was hired Wednesday to replace his mentor, the legendary George Porritt, who retired after this past season. Porritt helmed the St. Mary’s football program for 32 years and raised seven state championship banners.
Porritt’s final Eaglets club posted a 6-5 record and bowed out to Birmingham Brother Rice in the Division 2 district championship game.
“Life has come full circle for me now,” Gonzales said. “It’s truly surreal and a dream come true to be able to say I’m the head football coach at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.”
Gonzales led the Eaglets to the 1999 state crown in Division 4. The ’99 squad is considered one of the best in MHSAA gridiron history. He played his college football at the University of Michigan and is a member of the Catholic League Hall of Fame.
“Jermaine is a man of great character and integrity that all St. Mary’s football players and non-football players will look up to,” Porritt said.
Gonzales was Porritt’s junior varsity coach from 20072019 and points to him as an inspirational force in his life as a person, athlete and coach.
“I learned how to do things the St. Mary’s way under Coach Porritt, team over self, commitment to a common purpose,” he said. “I came to St. Mary’s and I learned great values about life. Coach Porritt always preached, ‘the measure of who you are is what you do with what you have.’ I believe in that thoroughly.”
Gonzales also started on St.
Mary’s 2000 boys basketball state-title team which was coached by Porritt. In 2019, he founded the Orchard Lake Cardinals Youth Sports Program for football and cheerleading.
Brayden Ledin will return for his senior campaign to quarterback St. Mary’s in 2022. Younggun playmaker Antwon Thomas should be a sophomore on the rise in recruiting circles come summer.