Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 13, 1990 TAG: 9003133531
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
East, who coached the Eagles East for four years, will continue to teach at Franklin County High. He also will serve as a volunteer assistant on the staff of Ferrum College coach Hank Norton.
Franklin County began looking for a new coach on the same day that Patrick Henry ended its search by hiring Park View-Sterling's Ed Scott.
East had a 14-26 record at Franklin County. His best years were 1987 and 1988, when the Eagles went 5-5 each season.
In 1989, Franklin County was picked to finish second in the district. But injuries and bad luck, such as a loss to Booker T. Washington after time had expired, left the Eagles with a 1-9 record.
"I believe it is in my best interests at this time [to resign]," said East. "I've flirted with the idea of coaching on the college level for a number of years. I talked to Coach Norton about it, and I think it's a positive career step for me."
East said the past season was not an easy one.
"There's always pressure when you have a bad season," he added. "You put pressure on yourself, even when you're successful. But there are pressures especially in a bad year."
East interviewed at Appomattox for a position that eventually went to Bath County's Steve Williams. He refused to comment on his involvement with the opening at Patrick Henry, other than to say he didn't interview for that position.
East said the move to college coaching will give him time to pursue a master's degree that he feels is necessary if he is to advance in his current profession.
"This hasn't been a bad job," he said of the Franklin County position. "The kids have worked hard. We made a lot of inroads as far as developing an off-season program. It just hasn't always worked for a successful Friday night. But the kids had a good work ethic and did what they needed to do to be successful.
"Certainly, this year was frustrating for us with all the injuries and high expectations. I don't think in all the years I've been coaching I've ever had so many injuries. We lost so many starters that things got in the way of consistency.
"Then we lost so many games in weird fashion, like the one with no time left on the clock. All of that doesn't usually happen in one year."
by CNB