A �heart and soul� kind of coach

By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -

MIAMI | The roar of students cheering for their coach put a well-deserved exclamation point at the end of William Oharriz’s 46-year career at Sts. Peter and Paul School.

Students, teachers, faculty and alumni paid tribute to him earlier this year by playing a basketball game in his honor. But even though he was referee and not coach at the game, Oharriz followed every move of the players with characteristic intensity.

He might be retiring from work but not from his work ethic, noted the school’s principal, Carlota Morales.

She recalled that Oharriz even came to work on his wedding day, and was back at school the Monday after. His work ethic and commitment are among the things Morales said she will miss the most.

'Heart and soul'

“For 46 years he has been the heart and the soul of the sports program of Sts. Peter and Paul, and I want to say that the heart and soul of many of the sports of the Archdiocese of Miami because he has served in many positions,” said Morales. “But all of that means nothing if he weren’t a man of integrity, a man of fear, and fear of the Lord, because he wanted everything done right, and you better believe it that it had to be done right because if not, you had to hear it.”

His student-athletes described him as tough and demanding, but also understanding and compassionate, a teacher who strived to instill sportsmanship, discipline and life lessons. 

“He taught me how to shoot layups,” said Dimitri Enriquez, an eighth grader at Sts. Peter and Paul. “He taught me how to be good at what I like to do. He taught me how to participate, even though I don’t get along with everyone. He taught me how to stand in line correctly if I have to stand in the middle of the field. And he taught me the basics of how a teacher should teach a student.”

Sts. Peter and Paul teachers Vicki Alvarez and Jose Velazquez were once Oharriz’s students.

“When I was here, back in the ‘70s, Coach was young, full of energy and I’m happy to say that he’s still full of energy; maybe not young, but full of energy,” said Alvarez. “Same coach, same great attitude. I loved playing for him. I love the dedication he asks from all the kids, in PE, in teamwork.”

First a gymnast

A native of Puerto Rico and a life-long athlete and sports enthusiast, Oharriz attended Miami Jackson High, then Miami Dade College and West Virginia University. Although he shined in gymnastics, he also joined the swim team as a diver, and ran track and field.

His time as a gymnast actually sparked the idea of coaching.

“When I was doing gymnastics I wanted to be a gymnastics coach, but I started working and there was no gymnastics so I had to adapt it to the other sports that I like and the other programs. But I always wanted to be a gymnastics coach. That was my sport. Gymnastics is my favorite sport, even though I like all sports,” Oharriz said.

He began working at Sts. Peter and Paul in 1970 at age 23, just after college. At the time, he was the only coach and physical education teacher at the school, responsible for every sport: baseball, basketball, track and field, volleyball, softball, and more.

Now, he is grateful to have more than enough hands to help with coaching, though he admits he has enjoyed the hard work.

'Not a job'

“If you love your job, if you like doing it, it is not a job, it’s just something that you like,” said Oharriz. “It’s been a pleasure working here at Sts. Peter and Paul. It’s been a pleasure having these students, and some of their parents that I had as students many years ago. I’ve had great administration, so they made it possible. And when you have great bosses, you enjoy yourself.”

Although Coach Oharriz hung up his whistle and clipboard at the end of the school year in June, he promised he’d be back. In the meantime, he will be missed but not forgotten.

“I wish one day we could build a gym here and name it after him,” said Alvarez. “He really is a legend here at Sts. Peter and Paul.”