Pasco
Ex-FSU star to coach Bishop
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Published: July 13, 2011
SPRING HILL - Just months after Bishop McLaughlin's best football season ever, coach Matt Nardo has resigned to accept a position as an assistant coach at Marietta College in Ohio. That paves the way for former Florida State great Derrick Alexander to be named coach of the Hurricanes.
"We are extremely lucky and excited that he will be leading our Hurricanes this football season. He will be an excellent addition, not only to the Hurricane football program, but to the Bishop McLaughlin community as well," Bishop McLaughlin principal Sarah Regan said in a statement.
Alexander, 37, won a national championship with FSU in 1993. He was a 1995 first-round draft pick by Minnesota, playing four seasons with the Vikings and one with the Cleveland Browns before retiring. He then worked in the Browns' front office. He was inducted into Florida State's Hall of Fame in 2007.
"I started my coaching career at a small college in Ohio (Muskingum University) and always wanted to get back to the college level," Nardo said. "It was a very tough decision. Since I was a kid, I was always told to leave things better than you found it."
Nardo took over for Marty Williams prior to the 2010 season after being an assistant for two years. He led the Hurricanes to a 7-3 record in the program's sixth season, and Bishop McLaughlin won its first playoff game in the Sunshine State South League.
Nardo helped guide quarterback Mitch Ritter (22 total TDs) and fullback Gio Perone (1,079 rushing yards, 13 TDs) to stellar seasons.
Staff writer Rick Harmon contributed to this report.
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