@AquinasRaiders
(954) 327-2181
Coach Julius Sandi brings a wealth of experience and a passion for basketball to the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys’ varsity team. As the Head Coach, Coach Sandi is dedicated to developing skilled athletes and fostering a winning culture on and off the court. With over 20 years of coaching experience, including five years at STA, Coach Sandi has made a significant impact on the program. His leadership and expertise have contributed to the team’s success, resulting in numerous accomplishments at the state level in Florida.
In 2025, Sandi led the Raiders to a historic season. They secured their second ever State Championship and first in 23 years. The same year, he was named the 6A Coach of the Year by Florida Dairy Farmers and the Miami Herald. Through his first seasons, Sandi compiled a record of 109-25 and secured the school’s first BCAA Big 8 Championship in 2025. They finished the season ranked 18th in the country, the schol’s highest ranking ever.
Coach Sandi’s coaching prowess is evident in the athletes he has mentored, many of whom have gone on to play at the collegiate level. Notable names include Tyler Polley (UConn), Rod Days (UCF/Campbell), Jeff Coby (Columbia University), Samir Stewart (Manhattan), Prince Ali (UCLA), GG Goloman (UCLA), Andrew Akuchie (Rice), Matthew Cadogan (Brandeis), Egor Koukechov (Florida/Arizona State/Rice), and Tomas Verbinskis (Richmond/Lafayette), among others. Athletes such as Prince Ali (Spain), Egor Koulechov (Israel), GG Goloman (Spain), Jeff Coby (G League), and Keyshawn Evans (Philippines) have excelled in their professional basketball careers under his guidance.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Coach Sandi is a respected teacher at STA. He brings his knowledge and passion for education into the classroom, further impacting the lives of his students beyond the basketball court.
The accolades keep on stacking up for the Raiders basketball squads as the state champions continued to be showered with post season accolades. The Miami-Herald honored a large number of players on both teams. Boys: First Team: CJ Westbrook (Player of the Year), Drake (DJ) Sandi, Kellson (KJ) Sandi Third Team: Nate Accius Honorable Mention:…
Three St. Thomas Aquinas football alumni signed NFL Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) contracts to keep their NFL dreams alive this past weekend. After not being selected in the seven rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft — Tyreak Sapp, Camden Brown and Anthony Hankerson signed standard UDFA deals. Sapp (C/O 2021) who attended the University of…
This story is written by Twan Russell, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Athletic Director Some Super Bowl stories are about plays and trophies. Kirk Olivadotti’s story is about people and purpose. Long before he coached linebackers on football’s biggest stage at Super Bowl LX, Kirk was an elite St. Thomas Aquinas Raider. At St. Thomas Aquinas High…
This article is courtesy of Aric DiLalla, lead writer for the Denver Broncos. The photo is courtesy of Gabriel Christus of the Denver Broncos. Four days before Nik Bonitto celebrated Jonathon Cooper’s game-winning sack on the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he had a similar reaction to another big defensive play on the same field.…
Ed Yarnall, a pitcher from St. Thomas Aquinas, excelled for the Raiders before playing college baseball at Seton Hall University, where he developed into a top pitching prospect. He was selected in the 1st round of the 1995 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. Yarnall went on to play professionally for the Yankees and…
Ava Yovino, a standout midfielder from St. Thomas Aquinas, starred for the Raiders where she was a three-time US Lacrosse All-American, a two-time Academic All-American, and led the team to the 2021 Class 2A state championship. She went on to play for the Navy Midshipmen, where she led the team in points as a freshman…
Lou Yovino, a standout lacrosse player from St. Thomas Aquinas, excelled in high school as one of the Raiders’ top offensive threats. Known for his vision and scoring ability, he helped lead the team to district and regional success. Yovino continued his lacrosse career at the collegiate level, playing at a top NCAA program and…
