Crusaders in good hands as usual

Bob Henriquez, in his second time at the helm of Tampa Catholic, continues to field prosperous teams.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published September 28, 2006

TAMPA - In his second stint as head coach at Tampa Catholic, Bob Henriquez is picking up exactly where he left off when he resigned six years ago.

During his first tenure from 1991-99, Henriquez built Tampa Catholic into a powerhouse, taking the Crusaders to the playoffs seven straight years (1993-99) while producing standouts like Kenny Kelly and Darrell Jackson, players still considered to be among the best Hillsborough County ever produced.

Five games into this season - his second year in go-round No. 2 at Tampa Catholic - Henriquez looks again to have turned around a program that floundered without him, going 5-25 the previous three seasons. After making their first playoff appearance since 2001 last season, the Crusaders are 4-1 this year, their lone loss coming to undefeated (5-0) and third-ranked (Class 2B) Sarasota Cardinal Mooney by one point in overtime and are averaging 32 points a game while holding opponents to fewer than 11 points.

"He's made everybody believe," said wide receiver Joey Lauteria, who has 22 catches and five touchdowns this season. "Before, everybody was down every game. Players were out there only for themselves. We were getting embarrassed and laughed at. This year, everybody is playing with their heart and putting everything in the program. It's all about the team now."

Henriquez's eight playoff appearances are four more than the school has produced without him. No other coach in Tampa Catholic's 44-year history has made the playoffs more than once. All of which proves the man can coach. But Henriquez is quick to acknowledge the help he has had along the way.

"The thing that's very difficult for a new coach in this area ...is surrounding yourself with the right people on your coaching staff," Henriquez said. "You can't do it with two or three coaches. You've got to put together a staff and delegate authority where you feel comfortable those guys are going to be able to get the job done."

Henriquez said the five years he spent away from Tampa Catholic, as an assistant coach at Jefferson, may have been his best career move.

"To go back and be an assistant coach for a while - really dig back into the X's and O's of football and get a different prospective and come back energized - made it possible to (be a head coach) again," he said. "It takes a lot out of you."

Now back at Tampa Catholic, Henriquez feels the "program is on much more solid footing.

"The entire program, the facilities and all of that are steadily improving. We've got a long way to go, a lot of work to do. But we feel good about where we are."

Henriquez and Tampa Catholic could take another step toward reestablishing the dynasty they built during the 1990s with a victory Friday at rival St. Petersburg Catholic.

"From a mental standpoint and a bragging standpoint, (a victory) would mean a lot because it shows we've reached that next level," Henriquez said.

"It's another step to see where we are, and it'll be a good test to see if we're completely back, partially back or whatever."

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 01:32:34]