Behind Every Championship: Michael Federman Earns Assistant Coach of the Year Award

by Matt Rothman July 30, 2026

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Behind Every Championship: Michael Federman Earns Assistant Coach of the Year Award

Mike Federman. {954 Preps}

Championship programs are built through the efforts of every player, coach, and staff member, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas is no exception.

As the Eagles recently celebrated their sixth consecutive State Championship, another member of the coaching staff was recognized for his contributions.

Assistant coach Michael Federman was named the Region 3 Assistant Coach of the Year, joining fellow coaches Mike Cimiluca, Will McCrimmon, and Elliott Bonner, who have also received coaching honors in recent years.

“Such a great honor, but it’s not possible without the coaches and players,” Federman said. “All the coaches have the same goal, and the players all buy in. The standard has been set by Fitz, and everyone, including the coaches, buys into it. This has been a historic run over the past six years, and the goal will be the same in 2027.”

Federman previously served as the head coach at Coral Springs High School, where he coached alongside Cimiluca, before joining MSD at the beginning of what has become one of the greatest dynasties in Florida high school baseball history.

This season, with head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald away from the team for portions of the year while caring for his wife, Federman and the rest of the coaching staff helped guide the Eagles through adversity.

“I am blessed to be surrounded by the best coaching staff in the country,” Fitz-Gerald said. “Fed is an amazing guy and puts in so much time with these kids for them to be successful.”

Despite injuries and other challenges, Marjory Stoneman Douglas caught fire in the postseason, capturing district, regional, and state championships. The Eagles capped their remarkable run by defeating the nation’s top-ranked team in the state championship game, securing their sixth consecutive state title.

The championship team featured 11 seniors who signed to play college baseball and produced two MLB Draft selections. Ace Gio Rojas became the first high school pitcher selected in the 2026 MLB Draft when the Texas Rangers chose him with the 16th overall pick, while Rylan Lujo was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round.

During his time at MSD, Federman has also helped develop several future professional players, including Roman Anthony, Devin Fitz-Gerald and Jayden Dubanewicz, along with dozens of college players.

In addition to his role with the Eagles, Federman is also a coach with the Original Florida Pokers, one of the nation’s premier travel baseball organizations, where he continues to help develop some of the country’s top young talent.

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student.