Interview: American Heritage OC Mario Perez has Loaded Roster for another Florida Title in 2016

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

There are few programs that can match the win-loss record of American Heritage in recent years and even fewer that can lay claim to the amount of talent sent off to the next level. The Patriots seeming help more south Florida high school players to the college level than a good SAT score and one of the coaches who has helped groom boys into young men is offensive coordinator Mario Perez.

Since the 2012 season, the Patriots have seen the talents of guys line linebacker Walter Tucker (Miami), quarterback Tyler Cogswell (Cincinnati), linebacker Michael Deeb (Notre Dame), defensive back Bryant Gross-Armiento (Rutgers), and defensive tackle Darius Holiday (Bowling Green) come through the program. For those not up to date on the American Heritage football program, the previously mentioned were all a part of the 2013 recruiting class alone.

The list gets gaudy with guys like Georgia running back Sony Michel and receiver Isaiah McKenzie (2014 class) but continues with defensive tackle Edgar Cerenord (Duke) and defensive backs Juwan Dowels (Syracuse) and Carter Jacobs (Cincinnati). Ohio State reached into the American Heritage program in 2015 taking quarterback Torrance Gibson with Florida State adding five-star defensive back Tarvarus McFadden. FSU came back in 2016 signing defensive end Brian Burns while Michigan and Tennessee added tight end Nick Eubanks and receiver Brandon Johnson respectively.

The 2017 class is loaded with at least 10 recruits who could put pen to paper on National Signing Day highlighted by four-stars in offensive lineman Kai-Leon Herbert (Michigan), defensive back Marco Wilson (Florida), and lineman Tedarrell Slaton (uncommitted). Nebraska has added linebacker Willie Hampton, while Florida has a second Patriot, linebacker James Houston, and Pitt has a verbal from Dontavious Butler. The collection of talent currently on the roster extends to the 2018 class with four-stars Nesta Silvera, Patrick Surtain, Tyson Campbell, Andrew Chatfield, and three-star all-purpose back Miles Jones.

Over the past four seasons, all the talent on the roster has produced 46 wins against just eight losses winning a 2013 5A state championship (15-1) and a 2014 5A state championship (13-3). The Patriots lost in the second round of the playoffs to Hallandale a year ago but are frontrunners for another Florida state title in 2016 with a national MaxPreps ranking of No. 6 after a quality 17-14 road win against Colquitt County, Georgia’s 7A state champs last season.

Perez is in charge of keeping the chains moving for the Patriots while finding a way to feed the ball to his many offensive talents. American Heritage will get an even bigger test on Friday when New Jersey high school titan Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) comes to town. Bosco represents a second consecutive defending state title winner the Patriots will face to start the season. The Ironmen won the title topping St. Joseph Regional 21-10 ending with a MaxPreps national ranking of No. 22. There is little drop off in talent and expectations with the Ironmen, they enter the season ranked No. 29 nationally (MaxPreps) with Heritage being their first game of the 2016 season.

In a Recruiting News Guru stylized interview, I caught up with Coach Perez before the Patriots big game against Don Bosco Prep to learn more about the man picking apart top high school defenses year after year with a little pregame thoughts on the Ironmen. Talking to Perez, one can quickly understand why top high school players respond to his coaching year after year.

Interview

Coach Perez, how long have you been coaching at the high school level?

“Let me see – I have been coaching six of seven years now.”

What got you into coaching?

“I have always loved it. Once I was married with children, I wanted to coach my kids. Coaching would require me to spend time with them on a daily basis, six of seven days a week. I did not want to miss out on opportunities to be with my kids. I have very fond memories of coaching youth football with my children. I got into coaching with Archbishop McCarty and then I spent a couple of years as a volunteer coach at University of Miami before coaching at Heritage.”

Where did you grow up?

“I grew up in South Florida, in Miami.”

Did the University of Miami influence your offensive philosophy?

“I’m not sure that it influence my offensive philosophy but it influenced my love for football. It only encouraged me to get more involved. My offensive philosophy is based on the talent that you have and base that system around those players.”

What is your offensive philosophy?

“My offensive philosophy is a run-first attack whether we will line up in 21 or 23, or a zone read scheme. What we do always depends on the personnel that we have. We want to run first and everything else can come after that. Passing is concept in our scheme. Our have quarterbacks have progressions they have to take and we will take advantage of what has been given to us by the defense.”

The heritage program is rich with talent. We have been fortunate to coach a lot of great kids to the next level.

I understand the team’s offensive philosophy each year and against each team is fluid, but what is the base of this year’s unit?

“It all begins with O-line. We have a good line. We rely on them to establish the tone of the game. We have a senior QB who is committed to Harvard. We have a talented group of committed receivers on the inside and outside that can exploit defenses on short passes and in the deep passing game. I think they are a little underrated, our running back corps. They are versatile. We have speed, size, and power. We are a well balanced offensive team. We will continue to try to take advantage of our balance as we go along.”

American Heritage has a big game against Don Bosco on Friday. What is your overview opinion about Bosco’s team?

“With Bosco, I have watched them on film. First thing about Bosco is their rich tradition. They compete nationally at an elite level every year. This year is no different. One thing that stuck me about their team, they are large up front, big, and well coached. They are a hard-nosed team that will fight from the first play to the last play of the game. Bosco is a great challenge for us. A game like Bosco helps prepare our team for games later in the season against other tough teams.”

Are there any teams upcoming on the schedule that has you excited to game plan against?

“Every week is a unique opportunity for coaches and players. Each game helps us mold young men on the field and within society. They are laying the foundation for future endeavors on and off the field. Each week is unique opportunity to prepare. Having said all of that, our district games are all very critical and important. After our first four games we have to get ready to be successful within our district schedule. A successful district season will have us get ready and prepared to make the playoffs and hopefully a run in the playoffs.”

I have to ask an off topic question given my background. Is there anything that you would change about recruiting process from a high school coaches’ perspective?

“The recruiting process has its season. In the off-season we try to keep our kids focused on our team goals and on our process preparing for the next season. During the season it is easy to keep kids focused on our team goals with games each week. There are many things we’d like to change about recruiting but it is what it is. We have 100 schools come by during the recruiting season. We try to help develop our kids and create a match between the kids in our program and the different college programs out there.”

Any last thoughts on being a coach at American Heritage?

“It is a privilege coaching at American Heritage. Our school has a great academic program and a great athletic program. I am happy to be a part on Heritage’s program.”

Coach, good luck against Don Bosco tomorrow and with the rest of the season.

“Thank you, we’ll need it.”

American Heritage kicks off against Don Bosco Prep at 7:00 p.m. ET Friday night.

Photo credit: twitter.com; Coach Perez post-game with American Heritage.

Photo credit: miamiherald.com; QB Torrance Gibson celebrates American Heritage 2014 title.

Photo credit: Perez family; Coach Mario Perez (right).

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