Orange Bowl Recognizes Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coach During “Extra Yard for Teachers Week”
MIAMI LAKES, Florida (orangebowl.org) – 16 September 2025 – The Orange Bowl Committee commemorated the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation’s “Extra Yard for Teachers Week” by surprising Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald, head baseball coach and teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, with a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift card, which can be used toward classroom projects and student resources.
“Everybody knows what he’s done on the field because he’s been recognized repeatedly for his achievements on the field, but what’s more important are his accomplishments off the field,” said Jack Seiler, Chair of the 2026 Miami Host Committee and Immediate Past President & Chair of the Orange Bowl Committee. “What he has done with the students, what he has done with the parents, the way he has built such a great program here. It’s outstanding.”
Fitz-Gerald was nominated by school leadership for his commitment to students and the program’s standard of excellence, including seven FHSAA state championships across his career—American Heritage (2008) and Marjory Stoneman Douglas (2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)—and multiple national No. 1 finishes: Perfect Game national champions in 2016, 2021 and an undefeated 29–0 season in 2023, plus Baseball America’s High School Team of the Year in 2016, 2022 and 2023.
“Coach Fitz-Gerald goes not just the extra yard but many miles for his students.” — Newton B. Sanon, Board Member, Orange Bowl Committee; President & CEO, OIC of South Florida.
“Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) Week” (September 13-20, 2025) is an annual event during which universities, conferences, bowl games, ESPN and others in the college football community come together to celebrate and recognize teachers across the country.
