CCS Coach of the Year
DONOSON FITZGERALD, MENLO
Donoson FitzGerald is a man who, when he finds a good thing, sticks with it.
That's why he's worked at the Clement Street Bar and Grill in San Francisco for more than a quarter century. And why he's been the Menlo
School girls soccer coach for almost the same span.
The Menlo deal has worked out swimmingly for both parties as this past season the Knights (15-3-3) won the WBAL-Foothill title and tied
rival Sacred Heart Prep 1-1 in the CCS Division III title game.
The section title was Menlo's third under FitzGerald. He has also led the Knights to four league titles, including winning league three
consecutive years.
SHP took a 1-0 lead in the title game when it scored in the first overtime. Menlo tied the game on a goal by Sienna Stritter with four
minutes left in the second OT, and that's the way it wound up.
"It was really exciting," FitzGerald said. "It was super exciting to make that comeback."
FitzGerald, 54, played three sports at his high school in Hudson, Ohio and especially starred in soccer, averaging two goals per game. He
then played at powerhouse University of Vermont, where he was team captain.
After assisting for a year at Vermont, he moved to San Francisco where he picked up the restaurant gig waiting tables. He also assisted at
Stanford for a year.
After that, it was on to the high school ranks as he began coaching the boys and girls soccer teams at College Prep in Oakland and the
girls team at Menlo. The fact all these teams played during different times of the year allowed him to coach all three teams for a decade.
He now just coaches the Menlo girls soccer team ... along with, well, the Knight cross country and track and field and a handful of Menlo
middle-school teams.
"When I first started coaching it was like 'Wow, I get paid to share what I know about sports,'" FitzGerald said. "It's great to be around
student-athletes and help them to become the best they can be as a team."
Menlo athletic director Craig Schoof marvels at FitzGerald's passion for sports.
"I said to him one day 'Don't you get burned out?'" Schoof said. "He said 'I just love being around kids.' He's incredibly dedicated and
caring toward kids."
Menlo barely edged SHP for the league title this past season, tying its intra-city rival 1-1 on January 9 and winning the rematch 2-1
on January 30. But to FitzGerald passion for the sport is more important than wins and losses.
"I love to play the game of soccer and just love the game in general," he said. "I spent a lot of time trying to master it at the highest
level and now I'm trying to help kids develop as players and improve their skills."
Judging by Menlo's success over the years, FitzGerald is doing a bang-up job, and doesn't plan any changes at the moment. He is, after all,
a guy who knows a good thing when he sees it.
Also considered: Michele Kennedy, Leigh; Jose Navarrete, Woodside; Brad Comstock, Santa Clara; Ramiro Arrendondo, Sacred Heart Prep;
Jolene Fugate, Valley Christian; JT Hanley, Archbishop Mitty.
|
