America’s longest-running program recognizing excellence in high school athletics
Dillard’s Pinder Named Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
GAINESVILLE (March 25) – Head coach Marcia Pinder of Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale has been named the 2015 Florida Dairy Farmers Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school coaches and media representatives.
The overall coach-of-the-year award was the fifth in the past six years for Pinder, who won the award four straight times (2010-13) before Bradenton Southeast’s John Harder broke the streak last year. Pinder led Dillard to a 30-1 record and the school’s ninth state championship this season. In 38 years at Dillard, Pinder has gone to 12 Final Fours while compiling an amazing 884-187 overall record.
Pinder tallied 160 points to finish ahead of Class 6A COY Christina Godwin of state champion Pensacola Pine Forest , who was second with 140 points. Class 8A COY Sam Baumgarten of Miami senior (122) finished third followed by Class 4A COY Al Honor of Lake Highland Prep (108) and Class 7A COY Cassandra Rahming of Palm Beach Lakes (102). Rounding out this year’s voting were Class 3A COY Ochiel Swaby of Miami Country Day (94), Class 2A COY Ericka Cromartie of Tallahassee FAMU (64), and Class 1A COY Michael Myrick of Freeport (46).
The Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This is the 23rd year of these unique awards as we honor the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
2015 FINAL VOTING RESULTS (Note: Points awarded on a 10-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)
Coach 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Total
Marcia Pinder 8 8 0 2 2 2 0 0 160
Christina Godwin 8 0 6 0 4 2 0 2 140
Sam Baumgarten 2 2 10 2 0 6 0 0 122
Al Honor 2 4 2 0 8 4 2 0 108
Cassandra Rahming 2 4 0 8 0 2 2 4 102
Ochiel Swaby 0 4 2 4 2 6 4 0 94
Ericka Cromartie 0 0 2 4 4 0 4 8 64
Michael Myrick 0 0 0 2 2 0 10 8 46
Past Girls’ Basketball Coaching Winners (Area winners in bold)
1993 – Ronnie Bond, Pensacola Washington
1994 – Al Austin, Jacksonville Ribault
1995 – Reginald Davis, Tallahassee Godby
1996 – Harry Elifson, St. Petersburg Boca Ciega
1997 – Al Austin, Jacksonville Ribault
1998 – Dave Horner, Ocala Forest
1999 – Al Austin, Jacksonville Ribault
2000 – Ronnie Bond, Pensacola Washington
2001 – Ronnie Bond, Pensacola Washington
2002 – Al Austin, Jacksonville Ribault
2003 – Abby Ward, South Broward
2004 – Ronnalee Terry, The Benjamin School
2005 – Carl Brown, Lake Mary
2006 – Greg Hostetler, Titusville Astronaut
2007 – LeDawn Gibson, Winter Haven
2008 – Mike Hamburger, Naples Barron Collier
2009 – Carla Harris-Curry, Miami Norland
2010 – Marcia Pinder, Fort Lauderdale Dillard
2011 – Marcia Pinder, Fort Lauderdale Dillard
2012 – Marcia Pinder, Fort Lauderdale Dillard
2013 – Marcia Pinder, Fort Lauderdale Dillard
2014 – John Harder, Bradenton Southeast
