Coaching, Broadcasting, and Preserving 40 Years of Key West Athletics
Key West's sporting legacy is astonishingly vast for a tiny island measuring just four miles long and two miles wide. This remarkable heritage has found its dedicated chronicler in Coach Judd Wise, who recently sat down for an interview about his 40-year journey through the Key West sports landscape and his mission to preserve its rich history.
Coach Wise began his career in the early 1980s, having fallen in love with Key West during childhood fishing trips. After graduating college, he immediately relocated to the island, beginning at Mary Immaculate High School before transitioning to Key West High School. Throughout his career, he's proven himself a true jack-of-all-trades, coaching football, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, and wrestling—though he humorously describes himself as "not good at any of them."
What stands out in Coach Wise's recollections is the transformation of women's sports, particularly softball. As Key West's first fast-pitch softball coach when the state discontinued slow-pitch, he witnessed the game's evolution from a bunt-and-slap hitting affair to today's power-hitting showcase. He credits the game's rising competitiveness to increased opportunities for young girls to develop their skills from an early age. Coach Wise especially praised current Conch pitcher Brianna Brenner, predicting she'll be "something else in her next two years."
Perhaps Coach Wise's most significant contribution to Key West sports has been his dedication to preserving its history. When Glynn Archer Jr., the previous Conch historian, passed away in the late 1990s, the documentation of Key West's sporting achievements ceased. Recognizing this void, Coach Wise began compiling records, starting with tracking where former athletes were playing collegiately. This evolved into a comprehensive archive that now includes remarkable statistics about Key West athletes who've reached professional levels—six who made Major League Baseball rosters, ten who played in the NFL, and countless other impressive accomplishments.
The statistics are staggering for such a small community: a Heisman Trophy runner-up (George Mira), multiple World Series champions (including Boog Powell), a Super Bowl ring winner, a major league umpire (Richie Garcia), and 13 individual state/national champions. Coach Wise has spent countless hours in the library poring through microfilms, meticulously documenting every accolade and achievement from Key West's sporting history back to 1927 when the high school first began competing.
Beyond his historical preservation efforts, Coach Wise has been a fixture on local radio for 17 years, broadcasting approximately 700 games alongside Rick Lopez on Conk Town Live. These broadcasts have become essential for the community, allowing fans who can't attend games to stay connected with their beloved Conchs. His fishing show is also approaching its 10th anniversary, further cementing his place in Key West media.
When asked about his proudest accomplishment, Coach Wise didn't mention championships or records instead, he spoke of former athletes returning to thank him for emphasizing academics over athletics. He recounted a particularly touching story about a former kicker who, despite being offered an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, chose to graduate and return home—telling Coach Wise that getting his degree was the most important lesson he'd learned.
Coach Wise looks ahead to the upcoming football season, expressed excitement about what he believes will be the strongest offensive line Key West has had since the early 2000s, potentially helping running back Walson Morin reach the 3,000-yard club. The community will have ample opportunity to witness what Coach Wise predicts will be a "spectacular show", with nine home games scheduled this season,
As Key West's unofficial sports historian, Coach Wise continues to document the island's athletic heritage while remaining actively involved in coaching and broadcasting. His commitment to preserving these stories ensures that future generations will understand and appreciate the remarkable sporting legacy that has emerged from this small island at the southernmost point of the continental United States.