By Steve Gorten
This report filed Feb 18, 2003:

Parkland · One of the county's renowned volleyball coaches, Pam Griffin, confirmed Monday she will be leaving Douglas to coach at Monarch High when the new school opens this fall.

"It's going to be my second time starting a program and I can't explain the excitement," said Griffin, who will also head Monarch's health and physical education department. "It's always hard to leave the kids, but I've always been one not to look back. I like moving."

Griffin, who coached the Eagles to state championships in 1992 and '94, is expected to reunite with former Douglas football coach Jim Mathisen, who resigned after last season and should be officially announced as Monarch's coach in the near future.

Their migration to Monarch, where former Douglas administrator Kathy Collins is principal, should nurture a fledgling athletic program through growing pains. Griffin and Mathisen have been the cornerstones of Douglas' program since the school opened in 1990.

"If it wasn't for the both of them, I don't think we would have the success that we have right now," Douglas Athletic Director Dave Grad said. "Those two created, they built what we have right now. They are the founding father and mother of the program."
What does their departure say about the state of Douglas athletics?
"We're a strong athletic program," Grad said. "I don't want people to think [coaches] are bailing on the school. They are not leaving because programs are going south."

Griffin backs up Grad and emphasizes her departure has nothing to do with athletics and everything to do with academics.

She said last season's disappointing finish -- Douglas lost to Spanish River in the first round of the playoffs after entering as district champ with a 25-5 record -- had absolutely no effect on her decision. Meanwhile, Mathisen was burned out and needed a fresh start, Grad said.

Football assistant coach Robert Fuller was one of two finalists to replace Mathisen, but didn't get the job and has since become Plantation's offensive coordinator. Fuller and Colonels coach Frank Hepler played high school football together and coached at Plantation in the early '80s.

Quarterbacks and receivers coach Stuart Theibault has replaced Fuller. Grad isn't close to being finished hiring. Another head coaching position at Douglas will be available in the near future, Grad said, and he's also looking for an offensive line coach and another football assistant. For now, the main concern is replacing Griffin.

PARADE OF TIGERS
Ely's state champion football team, scheduled to receive its rings next month, was honored with a parade Saturday morning that ended with a ceremony in front of Pompano Beach City Hall.

"It was great to see the community come out and show us some love," quarterback Carlton Jackson Jr. said.

Ely's junior varsity football team, which won the county championship, and Pompano Beach Middle School girls' basketball team also were recognized while the No. 22 jersey of 1995 graduate Tyrone Carter, now playing for the Minnesota Vikings, was retired.

Former Ely players James Jones, Dou Innocent, Zach and Henri Crockett and Corey Simon previously had their jerseys retired.

WORTHY CAUSE
Cleveland Browns receiver Andre King, a former standout at Stranahan and the University of Miami, recently donated 53 pairs of cleats collected from his NFL team, to his high school's budget-strapped program.

But he made perhaps a more valuable contribution Thursday morning, when he spoke to more than 250 students at Stranahan about the importance of academics.

SIGNINGS
Western forward Rodolfo Mehrens signed with Stetson while midfielder Nicholas Velasquez signed with Lees-McRae College in North Carolina. Pine Crest's Derek Dettman will play safety at Amherst (Mass.) College.

Steve Gorten's high schools column appears alternate Tuesdays. He can be reached at 954-356-4154 or sgorten@sun-sentinel.com. Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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