Mario Perez named new Pace football coach

Monsignor Edward Pace High School has a new head football coach.
Mario Perez, who was an assistant at Plantation American Heritage, takes over for Joe Zaccheo, who also resigned as the school’s athletic director.
Long time head baseball coach Tom Duffin fills the role of overseeing the work of coaches and related staff involved in athletic programs.
Perez has a household name in South Florida football, leading one of the most powerful offenses at American Heritage since 2010.
Under head coach and former Miami Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain, Perez helped lead the Patriots to four state championships including back-to-back titles and an undefeated season.
American Heritage finished this season 10-2 and won the district title before losing to Cardinal Gibbons, 35-7, in the regional playoffs.
According to MaxPreps, in 2018, Perez’s offense averaged 124.5 passing yards, 155.3 rushing yards per game and scored 30 touchdowns, ranking the Patriots among the best offenses in Florida.
Quarterback Erick Rhodes threw for 1,214 yards for 74-137 with six touchdown passes.
His running backs, Terrick Jones and Larry Williams, rushed for 769 yards and 569 yards, respectively, scoring a combined 15 touchdowns for the season.
Perez will try to turnaround a Spartans team, which struggled this season but made the playoffs, losing to Gulliver Prep, 27-14, in the opening round of the postseason.
“For the last 11 years I have been a part of the American Heritage family and was truly blessed to have coached there,” Perez said. “It will always be a special place to me. However, I have been presented with what I believe is an opportunity at Monsignor Pace that I just could not refuse.”
Loaded with a talented roster in 2017 and 2018, Perez said his offensive philosophy is a run-first attack whether “we will line up in 21 or 23, or a zone scheme.”
“Our quarterbacks have progressions they have to take and we will take advantage of what has been given to use by the defense.”
Duffin told reporters he’s excited over Perez joining the Spartans.
“We’re very excited to welcome Coach Perez to the Monsignor Pace high school athletic family,” said Duffin, who led a selection committee which chose Perez for the job. “We are excited as well to keep the strong football tradition here at Pace alive.”