Rich Hofman Gets Historic 1,000th Win As University Tops Pope John Paul II

To understand the impact University School head coach Rich Hofman has had on baseball players in South Florida over the years, one needs only to listen to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, considered by many to be one of the best major league players of all-time.

A-Rod took time out before the Yankees game Tuesday night to give his thoughts regarding his former high school coach.

“Coach Hofman’s lessons still impact me today,” Rodriguez told BrowardHighSchoolBaseball.com. “He was a great motivator who stressed loyalty and respect, and took pride in his responsibilities to his players.”

Shortly after the statement, Rodriguez’s Yanks took the field in the Bronx, and Hofman’s University team did the same in Davie. By the end of the evening, coach Hofman had done something that no coach in Florida history has accomplished.

Behind junior Michael White’s four-hit, eight-strikeout performance at Nova Southeastern University, the University School Suns defeated Pope John Paul II 3-0 to give Hofman his 1,000th career victory with family and friends, as well as former coaches and players in attendance to savor the historic moment.

“Tonight’s a good night for coach Hofman,” White said. “He always focuses on us. Everything’s all about us, getting our seniors into colleges, getting us better every day. It’s nice to have a night for coach Hofman because he deserves it.”

Hofman’s record stands at 1,000-258-17 during his 42-year career that touches on six decades, and he ranks first all-time among Florida coaches and 13th among the National High School Federation’s all-time winningest coaches in the nation.

“It’s kind of a cliche, but people say it hasn’t really set in it,” Hofman said. “I was more worried about winning the game. Obviously, it means a lot. To have kids celebrate with you, to have family and other coaches and other people who have supported you over the years in the stands offering congratulations. It means a lot to me. Winning games is nice, but one thing that sports affords, baseball in my case, is the opportunity for relationships, some with players, some with coaches, some with parents, some with administrators. They all have to work together if you’re going to be successful…In the end, my name will be associated on paper with 1,000 wins, and that to me is special, but that’s just on paper. The relationships are real.”

“It doesn’t compare to winning to winning a national title and probably doesn’t even compare to winning a state title, and you know I’ve had two teams that were rated the best in the nation. That’s a reward or an honor for your team. You’re the coach and they’re the players. And you share in that. That’s an on-the-field accomplishment, but from a personal standpoint, this is one of the highest honors I think I’ve been able to achieve, and it really means more than coach of the year or national coaches of the year, or even in some cases the Hall of Fame, because this was done on the field by my players and my coaches and my support group.”

Hofman ironically missed out on a chance Friday to record the historic win against Westminster Christian, the powerhouse he built in Miami. University School and Westminster Christian played for the title of Hofman’s Hall of Fame National Classic in Orlando. The Suns were winning 6-0 before the Warriors rallied for eight runs in the final four innings to win 8-6. But Hofman’s wife, Jo, said they were happy to hit the milestone at home.

“It was a little disappointing, but to be honest, we really wanted to be home for the win so everyone can be there,” Jo Hofman said. “Of course, we would have taken the win last week, but none of these people who are here now, our family and friends, would have been there.”

Some of Hofman’s five children and 11 grandchildren were there to help him celebrate.

“It’s a great night,” said Hofman’s son Dave, who’s coached with him since 2003 and is University’s pitching coach. “A lot of countless hours, ups and downs, mostly ups. This is an unbelievable achievement and accomplishment. I’m just proud to be a part of it.”

University (17-6) built an early lead as Sebastian Diaz scored twice and Diego Perez once to put the Suns up 3-0 after three innings, but Pope John Paul II (11-11) fought to the end, loading the bases in the last inning. A groundout at first base ended the threat and preserved the win.

After the game, athletic director Paul Herfurth presented Hofman with a special framed jersey to mark the occasion. He then said a few words to all in attendance about Hofman and the relationship they’ve had over the years.

“Really this is about coach Hofman,” Herfurth said. “All of his players — current, past — coaches, parents, I hope we can all share in this, but I think the coach will be the first to say again it’s not the number of victories, it’s the number of lives we’ve touched. He’s not only a great coach and mentor, he’s a true ambassador for the game of baseball. I’m extremely honored and privileged. Coach and I go back about 20 years. It’s a true honor for me to get to say thank you, and on behalf of University School, present players and coaches, past players and coaches, thanks.”

Hofman’s path to success started in 1969 when he began his career by coaching Westminster Christian to a 2-13-1 season. There, he built an athletic department from scratch, forming baseball, football and basketball programs as the athletic director. Hofman made that subpar ’69 season a distant memory by guiding the Warriors to eight state championships and two national championships (1992 by USA Today and Baseball America; 1996 by USA Today, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball). His 1992 team finished 33-2 and his 1996 team 36-0-1. The 1996 season was the closest his teams have come to having a perfect season. Hofman’s teams have won 30 or more games 10 times.

Rodriguez and former major-leaguer Doug Mientkiewicz played for Hofman on that 1992 team.

Westminster Christian won three consecutive titles from 1996-1998 before Hofman left for Westminster Academy. He picked up right where he left off at Westminster Christian and directed the Lions to two state and national runner-up titles in his first two years. The five consecutive state titles is a state record.

Westminster Academy remained among the top programs in the state until Hofman left in 2006 to coach at then-6A school Piper. Two years later, Hofman retired, but he came out of retirement in 2010 and set his sights on another challenge by taking over as coach at University School.

Along with the wins have come plenty of accolades. Hofman was named the Coach of the Decade for the 1990s by Baseball America, and his program was recognized as one of the top 10 high school programs in the nation by Baseball America in its 10-year anniversary issue. He has been named National Coach of the Year seven times and is a member of five hall of fames.

Reaching this milestone of 1,000 wins doesn’t mean Hofman is ready to call it a career. Not just yet.

“I’m going to play it year by year,” he said. “If the school continues to support me like they have the first two years and my son and I can coach together and do some things, we’ll just see where it takes us. I’m not going to quit tomorrow. There’s a lot of people who made commitments to come here and play for me and I don’t want to let them down either, but there’s going to come a time sooner or later when it gets to be a little too much for you. But I still have some energy yet.”

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