Fitzgerald, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2004 at the age of 53, remains a beloved figure on the Tampa Bay area soccer scene. 

“Heroes come and go but legends are never forgotten,’’ said Adrian Bush, a captain on Fitzgerald’s 1994 University of Tampa NCAA Division II national-championship team. 

Fitzgerald, an assistant coach for UT’s fabled 1981 national championship squad, was UT’s head coach from 1987-96. He finished 132-32-11 with the Spartans, earning Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year four times and South Regional Coach of the Year three times. 

He wasn’t done — not by a long shot. 

He led UCLA to the NCAA Division I national championship in 2002, becoming just the third person to capture national titles in both division 1 and 2. In two seasons with the Bruins, Fitzgerald’s teams were 38-5-4. 

 “He was a legend,’’ UT athletic director Larry Marfise said after Fitzgerald was killed following the completion of his first season back with the Spartans. “He’d reached a pinnacle in his career after winning a championship at UCLA where he could’ve gone anywhere or done anything he wanted. He chose to come back to Tampa, despite taking a financial loss, just to be with his family, his sons and grandchildren.’’ 

Fitzgerald also coached the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, leading them to four consecutive playoff appearances and the 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final in five-and-a-half seasons. 

As Bush indicated, Fitzgerald was a legend who won’t be forgotten.