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NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Apr 21, 2010 8:50:52 AM

Fidgi Haig will never forget the day an earthquake shook his native Haiti. Initially, he hoped for the best, but as time went on, he saw the damage of the 7.0-magnitude tremor on TV along with everyone else.

"As much as I knew growing up, Haiti was not a country prone to earthquakes," said Haig, coach of the Florida Tech women's soccer team. "Once I found out the magnitude, I was really worried because Haiti does not have the building codes we have (in America). And when I found out Hotel Montana, one of the most famous hotels in Haiti, had collapsed, I knew we were in trouble because my parents' house was two blocks away."

As Haig tried to touch base with his family after the January 12 disaster, he was met with roadblocks until he heard from his sister that their father, Gerald, who had beaten lung cancer only a few months ago, had died. He also learned that their mother, Ginette, had suffered serious injuries.

"Once I heard from my sister, it was like I was experiencing a nightmare," Haig said. "I couldn't sleep for days. I was worried about my family and friends who survived the earthquake and how they had to deal with the aftershocks." 

Despite being under the rubble for five hours, Ginette emerged with a broken back, neck, ribs and sternum, as well as a head injury. She is now recovering at a home in Miami.  Compounded with the loss of his father, Haig discovered that several close friends had died. Also, the house he grew up in and the high school he attended were leveled.

"It's sad to see pictures of Port-au-Prince and other areas, including my high school," Haig said. "It's difficult to realize that those areas have been destroyed."

Haig's father was a talented soccer player who began his professional career in his homeland and went on to be one of the first Haitian players to sign a professional contract with a club in France. Toward the end of his eight-year career, he played in Algeria before returning to Haiti to play for the country's national team.

"I never saw my dad play professionally, but from what I've been told, people went to watch him because he would score some spectacular goals," Haig said. "People described him as a panther, because he moved so quickly on the field. His technical speed, fitness and agility were three traits that fascinated people."

Fittingly, the younger Haig would go on to coach a team named the Panthers.

Haig, a forward like his father, played professionally in the United States and was a member of the Haitian national and Olympic teams. During his collegiate career, he starred alongside current Florida Tech men's coach Robin Chan. The duo helped Florida Tech bring home its first men's soccer national championship in 1988. 

Haig decided to branch into coaching, like his father did, at the end of his playing career.  Before he took the helm of the women's soccer program at Florida Tech, Haig helped turn Satellite High School into a soccer powerhouse, winning two state championships, five district championships and seven conference championships. He also led two travel teams, Indialantic Force and Space Coast United, to six state titles in seven years.

His influence with the Panthers has translated into national attention the past two years, with the team cracking the coaches poll in 2008 and posting a school-best 15 wins last year. 

But Haig's father influenced his son far beyond a love of soccer. 

"The biggest impact my dad had on me was my personality," Haig said. "He never forced me to play the game. He never put pressure on me. He let it be my own endeavor.

"Watching him grow up and seeing how he carried himself as a father and as a friend had the biggest influence on me. I always watched how people reacted to him and saw how much he was respected. He really cared and spent time with people."

Haig's father hoped to see soccer rise in Haiti during his lifetime. Now that the country has switched its focus to rebuilding, Haig is concerned about the development of the sport. He is hoping this summer's World Cup in South Africa will unite the people and alleviate some of their stress.

Since insurance is non-existent in Haiti, many of the possessions Haig's family members had are now gone. Determined to help pay off his parents' medical bills, the Florida Tech graduate also wants to provide support for his family as they look to rebuild their homes and lives in Haiti.  

"My mom is determined to move back to Haiti," Haig said. "The best way I can explain it is after 9/11, Americans weren't thinking about leaving their country out of fear or devastation. No matter how bad it gets, your country is your country."

Ryan Jones is the assistant athletics communications director at Florida Tech.