WENT WITH A COACH THAT HAD WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT MNW IN 1998. THE GUY WAS AT RIVAL MIAMI CENTRAL. ALSO WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT KILLIAN IN 2004............
NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL
Rolle takes over nation's No. 1 team
Northwestern named Billy Rolle as its new football coach and Earl Allick as athletic director.
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ AND MANNY NAVARRO
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com
Miami Northwestern coach Billy Rolle hoists the state championship trophy after a 28-0 victory against Bradenton Southeast in Gainesville in 1998. Rolle returned to Northwestern as coach Friday.
MIAMI HERALD FILE PHOTO
Miami Northwestern coach Billy Rolle hoists the state championship trophy after a 28-0 victory against Bradenton Southeast in Gainesville in 1998. Rolle returned to Northwestern as coach Friday.
After more than a week of waiting, the nation's top-ranked high school football team officially has a coach.
Billy Rolle was introduced as Miami Northwestern's new coach Friday morning in a private meeting with the team at the school's auditorium, confirming rumors that began Wednesday.
Northwestern principal Charles Hankerson also introduced Earl Allick as the athletic director. Allick worked the same position the past two years at South Miami.
''We hired an educator, a real good teacher [in Billy Rolle],'' said Hankerson, who added he received nearly 50 inquires and applications for the coaching position.
``The bigger overall picture for Miami Northwestern is that our commitment to academic greatness is going to be first and foremost.''
Last week when Miami-Dade Schools superintendent Rudy Crew announced the firing of Roland Smith and the rest of the varsity staff, he also instituted a new no-nonsense policy, as well as raised academic standards for Northwestern's players for this season.
Hankerson said his No. 1 priority in hiring a coach was making sure that person could carry out those initiatives. It is Rolle's second stint as Northwestern's coach. He led the Bulls to a state championship in 1998 and was the defensive coordinator in 1995 under Willie Goldsmith when Northwestern won its first title.
''The kids seemed to respond well to the announcement,'' said Rolle, who broke the ice during the announcement by reciting Northwestern's alma mater.
``As far as football goes, we let them know that we weren't going to do things differently. Mr. Hankerson felt like he needed to bring in someone that would help make it a smooth transition for the kids.
``I think they finally felt comfortable when I told them we weren't going be switching from the Spread [offense] to the Wing-T.''
Rolle said Friday he might not have ever left Northwestern had it not been for the need to be closer to his home in Perrine and his then two young children.
''Who knows what would have happened,'' Rolle said. ``My kids are grown up now so I can coach wherever I want again.''
Rolle is the only coach in Miami-Dade County history to lead two different schools to state football titles. He led Killian in 2004 to the Class 6A state title.
Northwestern, which begins formal practices Aug. 6, is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Rise magazine, and is expected to be ranked either No. 1 or 2 by every other major national prep poll.
GETTING TO KNOW TEAM
Rolle said he will begin running the team's summer workouts Monday and will spend the next few days getting to know the players better.
''Hankerson stressed that he wants the kids to focus on their future and life after football,'' Rolle said.
``When I was here before and coaching with coach Goldsmith, we kept that standard.''