Dennis Lavelle and The Columbus Connection

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Lavelle attended Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH where he played on the football team and earned his degree in mathematics. In the early 1970s, he moved to Miami where he became a math teacher and served as an assistant football coach at Columbus High, an all-boys Catholic school in Miami’s Westchester neighborhood with a sterling reputation for academics and athletics. Lavelle was an intense and fiery coach who earned a reputation as a brilliant defensive mind. As defensive coordinator, Lavelle’s 1979 Columbus Explorers defense allowed only 39 points in 10 games, including 5 shutouts, earning the nickname “The Goose Egg Defense”.

By 1982, the Columbus roster included All State quarterback Mike Shula and All American defensive end Alonzo Highsmith. The Explorers had a team that would contend for the state title. But in the middle of the season, head coach Bob Lewis was fired following an arrest for lewd and lascivious behavior. Lavelle was promoted to head coach. Under very difficult circumstances, he guided the Explorers to the Class 4A state championship game, losing a close contest against nationally ranked Pensacola Woodham on the road.

For the next 16 years, Lavelle ran one of the most consistent winning programs in Miami-Dade County. Columbus annually produced big-time college prospects, many of them ended up as Miami Hurricanes. Over the years, his Columbus teams had several familiar names to Hurricane and Dolphin fans. Don Shula, Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti and Howard Schnellenberger all had sons who played football at Columbus for Lavelle.

After 17 seasons at Columbus, Lavelle moved to Stuart, FL in Martin County, where he coached 16 seasons at South Fork High School. In his 33 years as a head coach, Lavelle racked up a 192-143 record. Countless players have gone on to attend college. A few have made it to the NFL. Even more have gone on to successful careers beyond football and are winners in the game of life. Among his former Columbus players include:

David Heffernan – Class of 1980
Julio Cortes – Class of 1980
John McVeigh – Class of 1981
Nick Buoniconti Jr. – Class of 1982
Kevin McCutcheon – Class of 1982
Alonzo Highsmith – Class of 1983
Mike Shula – Class of 1983
Rick Arango – Class of 1984
Jose Montalvo- Class of 1984
Marc Buoniconti – Class of 1984
Dennis Kelleher – Class of 1985
Scott DiMare – Class of 1985
Darren Handy – Class of 1986
Luis Cristobal – Class of 1986
Carlos Huerta – Class of 1987
Matt Britton – Class of 1987
Mario Cristobal – Class of 1988
Juan Cendoya – Class of 1988
Adrian Ellis – Class of 1990
Mike Reddick – Class of 1991
Danyell Ferguson – Class of 1992
Brian Griese – Class of 1993
Eric Thomas – Class of 1995
Joaquin Gonzalez – Class of 1997