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There’s rarely ever a dull moment in the world of high school football in South Florida.
The latest turn of the coaching carousel happened Monday as Football Hotbed learned that Pierre Senatus has been named the new head football coach at Hialeah.
Senatus replaces Steve Smith, who left Hialeah to take the head coaching position at Killian – a school that he coached at previously.
With the new job, Senatus returns to Miami-Dade County after spending the past two seasons at Miramar High School. He led the Patriots to a 12-8 record in two seasons at the helm and steadied the program following the turmoil stemming from an improper benefits scandal.
Senatus resigned from his post at Miramar in February, immediately following National Signing Day – a day in which he helped 12 Patriots football players sign letters of intent.
Nonetheless, Senatus said he’s happy to have the opportunity to be a head football coach again.
“I’m glad to be a T-Bred,” Senatus said. “I think the kids will be excited with the new direction that the program will be going in – a new philosophy and a new energy. We’ll be reaching out to some of the other Thoroughbreds, guys that walked these halls and played on these fields, to connect with the program and we’re going to embrace the entire school and community.”
“It’s great because I started my high school career at Hialeah, so things have come full circle,” Senatus added.
Over the past two years, the Thoroughbreds went 8-12 and last made the playoffs in 2015. Despite the slightly below average fairings recently, Hialeah has shown itself to have the potential to be a more than solid program.
Having produced NFL-bound players such as Adewale Ojomo, Corey Liuget and Corey Lemonier, Hialeah can bring in talented players – at least enough to compete in a wide-open District 13-8A.
“Hialeah has been a program that always got kids but wasn’t able to keep them,” Senatus admitted. “But we’re going to change that. We want to create an atmosphere and a culture where guys want to leave a legacy here at Hialeah, stay for their whole career and want to add to what’s already here and leave something behind for the next group to carry.”
Senatus gives Hialeah a coach with an impressive resume and track record for “going all in” with his program. Prior to becoming a head coach, Senatus served as assistant head coach, defensive line coach, head strength and conditioning coach at Booker T. Washington. He was a part of the Tornadoes’ first four state championships while working under Tim “Ice” Harris Sr. and Tim Harris Jr. and briefly served as Booker T.’s wrestling coach.
“I think it takes the right coach to unlock the potential that a program has,” Senatus said. “My plan is to be heavy on the road with the team during the offseason – going to camps, participating in 7-on-7’s, going on college tours, you name it. We want to put Hialeah on the red carpet of South Florida high school football.”
