American Heritage hired defensive coordinator Stacy Sizemore to replace Doug Socha as head football coach after Socha resigned his position late last week, several sources confirmed Monday.
Sizemore, 42, met Monday with American Heritage’s Delray Beach headmaster Bob Stone and school founder William Laurie to discuss the job, and will get his official contract next week after Socha’s departing agreement is finalized. He planned to meet with his Heritage coaching colleagues at 4 p.m. Monday.
Sizemore’s hiring ended a quick three-day search for a replacement for Socha, who coached Heritage to a state championship in 2011, and satisfied the school’s desire to maintain an element of stability amid Socha’s sudden departure.
Sources close to the program said the entire coaching staff will stay in tact with Sizemore’s hire.
Players on Monday said hiring an in-house coach with a familiar face and a connection to the current roster would play a major role in dissuading student-athletes from leaving American Heritage after the state’s new transfer rules go into effect July 1. According to a new state law, student-athletes can move schools and play sports immediately as long as they transfer before the sport’s practices begin and are approved by the school district, if the move is to a public school, or the school’s governing body if it’s to a private school.
Heritage features several big-name prospects on its roster. Running back Greg Bryant (Oklahoma), offensive lineman Rod Johnson (Florida) and H-back Tyler Provo (Syracuse) have already verbally committed to BCS programs. Quarterback Marcus Davis and defensive backs Darrion Richardson and Xavier Swinton are each considered Division I-level recruits as well, making Sizemore’s first fall season promising.
Heritage also has one of the toughest schedules in the state, with seven away games and matchups against state powers Seffner-Armwood, Dwyer and Cocoa, which will be televised on ESPN.