This award is presented an athletic administrator as a means of recognizing the outstanding achievements of interscholastic athletic administrators in the State of Florida, as well as honoring the distinguished achievements of those who have attained excellence and made a positive and dynamic impact upon the FIAAA, student-athletes, high school communities, coaches and colleagues.
The guidelines for this award can be found here.
The FIAAA is now accepting nominations for the 10th Hall of Fame Class. The nomination form can now be found on the FinalForms Awards page. To access this page, log into your FinalForms account at https://fiaaa.finalforms-amp.com/ (select the Members login button), when your account opens, choose the Awards option in the upper right corner next to your name. Scroll down to “FIAAA Hall of Fame” and select “Create Nomination”. If you do not have a FinalForms account or are uncertain if you have an account, contact Mike Colby at mlcolby50@outlook.com.
The inductees in the FIAAA Hall of Fame at the 47th Annual State Conference include two outstanding athletic administrators who have distinguished themselves, locally, statewide, and nationally. The inductees are:
2025 FIAAA HALL OF FAME
PAUL McLAUGHLIN, CAA
One of only two NIAAA Thomas E Frederick Award of Excellence recipients from Florida, Paul McLaughlin distinguished himself as a leader the with both the FIAAA and the NIAAA, well deserving of this recognition.
A graduate of Frankfort High School in Philadelphia and West Chester State College in Pennsylvania, Paul was an accomplished Football and Basketball coach in both Pennsylvania and Florida, as well as a high school and college baseball umpire, before moving on to athletic administration.
Upon moving to Florida in 1973, Paul served as an assistant football coach at Dunedin and Pinellas Park high schools and an assistant baseball coach at Dunedin High School. From 1979 to 1986, he served as the Director of Student Activities (Athletic Director) of Countryside High School in Clearwater and from 1986 to 1991, he served as the Assistant to the Director of Student Activities (quasi–County Athletic Director) of Pinellas County.
As an athletic administrator at the state and national levels, Paul served a FIAAA District Director from 1981 to 1983 and FIAAA Secretary from 1983 to 1985 before embarking on the FIAAA leadership path, where he served as the President-Elect in 1985-1986, the 9th President in 1986-1987 and Immediate Past President in 1987-1988. As FIAAA President in 1986-1987, he also sat on the FHSAA Board of Directors during that time period. From 1987 to 1991 he served as the first Conference Coordinator for the FIAAA. In 1983, he served on the NADC Host Committee, the first held in Florida (Orlando) as the Golf Tournament Coordinator and in 1991 as the Chair of the NADC Host Committee, also held in Orlando. Paul also sat on the NIAAA Publications Committee from 1986 to 1991, serving as chair of the committee from 1988 to 1991. He was published four times in the IAA Magazine. From 1991 to 2010, Paul was on staff of the FHSAA, first as a Field Director, then as Director of Athletic Operations and finally as Assistant Executive Director. He sat on the NFHS Football Rules Committee from 1997 to 2002 and on the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee from 2005 to 2008.
In addition to NIAAA Thomas E Frederick Award of Excellence he received in 1996, he also received an NFHS Citation in 1986, the NIAAA State Award of Merit in 1992, FIAAA Honorary Lifetime Membership in 2007, the FACA Distinguished Service Award in 2008, inducted in the FHSAA Hall of Fame in 2013 and FIAAA Lifetime Membership in 2020. Paul was also in the charter class of athletic administrators earning CAA certification.
Paul “embodied the spirit of perseverance, humility, and service to others—qualities that make him an exemplary candidate for this recognition.” said Alachua County AD Gary Pigott.
TOM CATANZARITE, CAA
When Manta Ray fans enter the Lemon Bay High School gym, they are welcomed into the “Thomas M. Cantanzarite Gymnasium,” in honor of this distinguished longtime Boys Basketball Coach and Athletic Director.
Tom, a graduate of Holy Family High School in Massena, NY, and the State University of New York in Potsdam, NY, had a distinguished career as the head boys varsity basketball coach for 29 years, amassing over 400 victories, in addition to his time as an athletic administrator.
During his 35 years at Lemon Bay High School, in addition to his 29 years of coaching, Tom was instrumental in establishing the Englewood Youth Basketball Club and worked over 25 years with the Manta Ray Basketball Camp. From 1993 to 2015, Tom served as the Athletic Director, and it was during this time, in 2003, that the high school gymnasium was renamed in his honor. He was also inducted into the 2nd Class of the Lemon Bay High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.
As an athletic administrator at the state level, Tom served as a FIAAA District Director from 1999 to 2004 before embarking on the FIAAA leadership path, where he served as President-Elect in 2004–2005, the 28th President in 2005–2006, and Immediate Past President in 2006–2007.
It was during his stint as President-Elect, in addition to overseeing many aspects of the 2005 Annual State Conference, that he started a new trend with the conference photography. Not only did he maintain a traditional photo album, but with the cooperation of his wife Donna, he also created a digital montage of the photos set to music — a forward-thinking approach at the time.
Following his tenure as Immediate Past President, Tom was asked to help develop the FIAAA’s first Strategic Plan (2009–2014), and from 2007 to 2011 he served as an At-Large Director in that capacity. The success of this Strategic Plan paved the way for the FIAAA’s current fourth Strategic Plan.
Tom earned his Certified Athletic Administrator certification and was honored with FIAAA Lifetime Membership in 2018.
“His unparalleled dedication, leadership, and positive influence have made a lasting impact on the lives of many, including my own,” said a former Lemon Bay High School basketball player and current Charlotte County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent.
Former Lemon Bay High School Principal Dan Jeffers added, “His leadership skills and motivational impact for his athletes and coaches, as well as his community involvement, provided a sense of striving for perfection and participation. His attention and organizational skills — from detailed scheduling to field and gym facility management — left a lasting impression.”
