Three coaches earn Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year honors
A three-peat.
A repeat.
And a long-awaited return to the top.
Three different levels of accomplishment highlight this year’s Miami Herald Boys Basketball Coaches of the Year who coached the three teams from Miami-Dade County that brought home state championships.
Miami Columbus coach Andrew Moran guided a supremely talented Explorers’ squad to its third consecutive state championship and a top 5 national ranking.
Miami Riviera Prep’s Anthony Shahbaz continued to add accolades to a program he’s helped build into a powerhouse as the Bulldogs won their second consecutive state title.
And at Miami Norland, Lawton
Williams III waited nine years to get his Vikings back to the top and succeeded this season as they won their first state title since 2015 and seventh overall during his tenure.
Shahbaz earned the honor for Classes 4A-2A while Moran and Williams split Classes 7A-5A
honors.
The milestone was particularly sweeter for Williams, who overcame severe health issues to return to the sideline and complete what his group of seniors including first team All-Dade selections Marcus Allen and Triston Wilson had set out to do
four years ago.
Williams is the only coach in state history to win seven championships at the same school and is tied with former Blanche Ely and current Northwestern coach Melvin Randall for the most in state history.
Shahbaz returned nearly the entire roster that propelled Riviera Prep to its first state championship a year earlier, but had more of a target on it this season. Led by 4A-2A Player of the Year Dante Allen, the Bulldogs navigated through one of the toughest regions in the state and won the Class 3A state championship once again.
With most of his key players coming back, Riviera Prep figures to be a favorite next season.
Moran directed Columbus not just to another state title, but a No. 1 national ranking for most of the season. The Explorers, led by the talented sibling tandems of Cameron and Cayden Boozer and Jase and Jaxon Richardson, also finished runners-up at The Throne tournament and semifinalists at Chipotle Nationals.
It was Moran’s four state title overall, having also won one at Miami Christian.