Fitzgerald Dies In Accident

TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Fitzgerald came home to Tampa a year ago, back to a job he had previously held for 10 years, coaching the men’s soccer team at the University of Tampa before heading to the pros and the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

In 2003 he left UCLA, where he had led the Bruins to the NCAA Division I championship in 2002 to return to Tampa. At the time he said the move would enable him to spend more time with his family, wife Debi and sons Jesse and Shane.

Sadly, Fitzgerald lost his life in a motocycle accident on December 4 while on his way to scout players at the Nike friendlies in Bradenton. He was 53 years old.

A automobile, driven by Ann Critcher, 44, of Tampa, pulled away from a stop sign into Fitzgerald’s path causing the accident. It was reported that Fitzgerald called his wife, Debi, shortly following the collision, and was in critical, but stable, condition at Tampa General Hospital in the early afternoon.

However, he was taken into emergency surgery as his blood pressure dropped, and he died of a ruptured aorta during surgery.

Fitzgerald began his coaching career at Jesuit High School in Tampa, and then took over the men’s head coaching position at the University of Tampa, leading the Spartans to a NCAA Division II national championship in 1994.

His career took him to Major League Soccer as an assistant coach with the Columbus Crew in the inaugural MLS season in 1996 and he was appointed interim head coach with 10 games left in the season. He was elevated to head coach at the end of that season after leading the team to a 9-1 record and a playoff spot.

Fitzgerald returned to the University of Tampa this year after coaching the Spartans from 1987-96, leading them to the Division II championship in 1994 and the Final Four three times. When he led UCLA to the 2002 NCAA national title he became only the third person to win a championship in the top two divisions.

About 50 people, most of them current men’s and women’s players, gathered at midfield in a tribute at the school stadium Saturday night.

Fitzgerald coached Columbus from 1996-01, leading the team to three straight conference titles.

“Tom was an integral component in the organizations early development and left a lasting impression,” Crew interim general manager Mark McCullers said. “He was an active member of the Columbus community and will always be a part of the Crew family.”