Latoya Williams Resigns As Central's AD; Wilcox Steps Down At Edison

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Behind every great entity, there's usually someone behind the scenes that makes everything go.

For Miami Central's athletics program, that person was Latoya Williams.

SFHSSports learned last Friday and confirmed Monday that Williams has chosen to resign her position as Rockets' director of athletics. She also confirmed that she will continue to teach at the school, but will no longer serve as AD.

Williams, who took over the post in 2012 after serving as business manager at Northwestern the previous six years, oversaw some of Central's best athletic years during her tenure.

Specifically, the Rockets' football team won four consecutive Class 6A state championships from 2012 to 2015 and has traveled to and played in multiple nationally televised games. She also facilitated the hiring of head football coach Roland Smith, who's led the Rockets a state title in each of the three years he's been at Central.

Williams said her decision is rooted in her love for her family.

"I have three kids and I am a single mother – so most times, 24 hours isn't enough…they're growing up and I want to be there for them as much as I can," Williams said. "It's not that I wanted to give up [being an athletic director] it's just that a cut had to be made somewhere. And my son is becoming very active in athletics now, and I want to be there for him."

"What can I say, I'm a mommy," Williams added.

"I am very appreciative of the opportunities that were afforded to me during my time at Miami Central. I'll miss working with our coaches…we built a family away from the field, away from the court and away from the track; so, of course, I want to see them continue to succeed," Williams said.

But Williams handprint wasn't only on the gridiron.

Williams also brought in head boys' basketball coach Maurice Troupe, who's led Central to a GMAC title in 2015 and has taken the team to at least the second round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. She also hired Central alum and former All-American Tracy Reid to lead the girls' basketball team – which has gone 31-11 in the past two seasons.

The soccer team qualified for the GMAC tournament in 2015 and Williams said that the school saw growth in just about every athletic program – especially amongst girls.

"When I first got here it was 'football, football, football'," Williams said. "But I wanted to change the culture. When I came in my motto was 'one program, one vision' and I wanted to bring in coaches who had played the sport they're coaching and have the same kind of passion for high school athletics that I do. Our main goal was to always pour into the kids and help them further their education."

Williams had been both a visible supporter and a silent pillar for the school that had afforded her the opportunity to be an athletic director for the first time.

Her decision to resign further depletes Central's administration brain trust with direct ties to the football team – as former assistant AD and assistant football coach Gerald Cox left in May to become the head football coach at Coconut Creek High School.

SFHSSports made attempts to contact Central principal Gregory Bethune, but was unable to reach him for comment. Because the 2015-16 school year recently ended, the school has the summer months to name a new AD.

Still, Williams said she'll still be helping kids through athletics.

"I'll still be around sports," Williams said. "I am still going to continue my work with Tournament of Champions and I will be working with a youth football league too – being close to my son who's playing. Those were extra things I was doing on top of being an AD, so I'm still going be involved with our youth."

Wilcox Steps Down At Edison

While the casual hoops fan may not have noticed it, there was a small renaissance of sorts going on with Miami Edison's boys' basketball program.

Though the Red Raiders showed signs of improvement of the past half-decade, the coach behind it all has decided to move on.

SFHSSports learned Monday afternoon that Damon Wilcox has elected to step down as Edison's head basketball coach – effective immediately.

Wilcox, a Birmingham Southern University grad, took over Edison's program in 2011-12 – a year after the program had just completed a 6-17 season. In Wilcox's tenure, the Red Raiders totaled a 66-50 record and were competitive in district play each season.

"When I took the job five years ago, my sole purpose was to try to restore the once rich tradition of Miami Edison boys' basketball in the inner city," Wilcox said via text message.

"I take solace in knowing that we had a positive impact on the many youths we came in contact with. Also, that I would like to thank everyone at Edison for the opportunity and wish them nothing but success in the future. I will continue to direct the Miami Midnites (ABA) as head coach."

Wilcox's coaching roots run deep in Miami-Dade County. He played at North Miami Beach under legendary coach Irv Balkman and had assistant coaching stints at Christopher Columbus under Butch Staiano and at Design & Architecture Senior High (DASH) under Charlie Funk.

Also, for the past two years, Wilcox has led the Miami Midnites – a semi-professional basketball club that is affiliated with the Israeli Maccabi Haifa professional club and competes in the Florida Basketball Association (FBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA) – to multiple FBA championships and consecutive appearances in the ABA Finals.