Jerry McCabe Named 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Coach-of-the-Year

GAINESVILLE (April 30) --- Melbourne soccer coach Jerry McCabe has been named the 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Boys’ Soccer Coach-of-the-Year.

McCabe is the 17th winner of the annual award, sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. A statewide panel of high school coaches and prep media representatives voted on the award honoring the top high school coach for the 2008-09 season.

At Melbourne, coach McCabe’s teams have won 10 district titles, made three Final Four appearances and won two state titles (1994, 2009). He has a record of 329-106-45 at Melbourne and a career record of 418-139-53. This is the second time coach McCabe has won the award after also being named the state’s top coach in 1994.

“Florida’s dairy farmers congratulate coach McCabe for a job well done and we salute him with a milk toast,” said Matt Lussier, a Gainesville area dairy farmer. “We take a lot of pride in watching a winner such as coach McCabe represent our industry and this award in such a positive manner and we wish him continued success.”

McCabe, who was earlier chosen as the Class 6A Coach-of-the-Year, finished ahead of Class 4A Coach-of-the-Year Scooty Carey of Merritt Island and Alex Delgado of Palm Harbor University as well as winners from the two other state classifications. McCabe received three first-place votes and totaled 53 points with Carey and Delgado finishing tied for second with 31 points.

Alvin James Delray American Heritage, the Class 2A Coach-of-the-Year, finished fourth with 30 points and Jim Lieb of Jacksonville Bolles (Class 3A) was fifth with 25 points.

The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Dairy Farmers Inc.'s commitment to the state's youth. While honoring the state's top athletes and coaches in all 25 FHSAA-sanctioned 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.





Dairy Farmers Boys’ Soccer Coach-of-the-Year Winners



1993 – Dave Zimmerman, Tampa Berkeley Prep

1994 – Jerry McCabe, Melbourne

1995 – Santiago Molina, Tallahassee Lincoln

1996 – Santiago Molina, Tallahassee Lincoln

1997 – Bob Bauman, Tampa Jesuit

1998 – Kevin Brown, Neptune Beach Fletcher

1999 – Jim Willenborg, Hialeah American

2000 – Adrian Bush, Tampa Gaither

2001 – Bob Bauman, Tampa Jesuit

2002 – Darrin Karuzas, Olympic Heights

2003 – Allen Ware, Brandon

2004 – Dave Zimmerman, Tampa Berkeley Prep

2005 – Jay Flipse, Miami Sunset

2006 – David Sica, Clearwater Countryside

2007 – Matais Asorey, Miami Varela

2008 – Jose DaCosta, Tampa Preparatory

2009 – Jerry McCabe, Melbourne