THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 27, 1994 TAG: 9409270429
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Wanted: Head football coach for metropolitan-area high school. Qualifications should include experience coaching both offense and defense. Applicant must also HIGH SCHOOL NOTES
be capable communicator able to deal with stresses and strains of today's youth.
Sorry guys, don't know of any job openings yet. And surely there would be at least 50 resumes for any job that opens in the area.
There are, however, five resumes I'd like to see cross my desk if I were a principal looking for a head coach. These guys have also made it clear they'd like a shot at a head coaching position. In alphabetical order:
Jeff Ballance, Green Run. The Stallions' offensive coordinator, Ballance played at Princess Anne, thus has strong ties to the area. Ballance, 30, also played quarterback at Virginia Tech, giving him a better-than-working knowledge offensively. Coached defensive backs at Kempsville before moving to Green Run. Working with Stallions' skillful offensive unit this season should only increase his stock.
Jeff Beard, Deep Creek. Some might know him for his exploits as a power-hitting first baseman for Old Dominion University in the early 1980s, but Beard, 36, has been making his mark on the gridiron since. Assisted at Indian River for the past seven years before moving to Deep Creek, where he's working with defensive ends, tight ends and split ends. Earns high marks as a motivator and for his professionalism.
Robert Jackson, Tallwood. Jackson, 30, not only has high school coaching experience, he also coached offensive linemen and special teams at Norfolk State under Willard Bailey. Jackson played at Norcom and Norfolk State, and currently is defensive coordinator at Tallwood. And everyone at Tallwood points to Jackson as the reason the Lions' defense is ranked fourth in the area in yardage allowed (149 per game) and points allowed per game (6.7).
Romeo Lambert. Never played the game, due to injury while at Norview. But that's not always a necessary quality. Lambert, who graduated from Virginia State, began his coaching career at Norview, holding every assistant's position from the ground up. As defensive coordinator at Booker T. Washington, Lambert, 40, is a self-described student of the game who is thriving in light of the Bookers' recent successes.
Carlton Thomas. Thomas, 30, coaches defensive backs and wide receivers at Bayside and formerly was an assistant at Bayside Middle, so he's been around winning programs. He has a warm and affable approach, and he's definitely been there as a player. Played at Wilson High and Elizabeth City State, and briefly played scab ball for Kansas City Chiefs in strike year.
The only problem is, there are no guarantees that any jobs will open this year, although it's a rare year that goes by when at least one job isn't vacated. And if no jobs open this year, there's always the promise that Hickory High in Chesapeake opens in two years.
Could some of the more established coaches in the area be thinking about stepping down? Who are the elder statesmen among head coaches?
First Colonial's Frank Webster is in his 34th year as a head coach. Norcom's Joe Langston is in year No. 21. Lake Taylor's Bert Harrell and Indian River's Bob Parker are each head coaching for their 14th seasons. Maury's Bobby Pannenbacker (11) and Western Branch's Lew Johnston (10) round out the stable of head coaches who've been at it for a decade.
With nine years' experience, Tallwood's Ken Barto and Granby's Dave Hudak aren't far behind.
AWARDS, AWARDS: There are many awards circulating these days in the high school ranks, the most notable being the Dial Awards for outstanding seniors, both male and female.
Now comes the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. Excuse me, but aren't we stretching the Heisman a little too far?
Wendy's has partnered the New York Downtown Athletic Club to steal the namesake. Does the female recipient really want to receive a trophy of a football player? And how is Wendy's supposed to come up with the most worthy candidates when the deadline for entry - principals make the entries - is this Friday?
Of course, that parallels current Heisman Trophy standards for college football. If you aren't considered a candidate prior to the season, chances are you won't win.
NOTABLES: With Norcom possessing a 17-game winning streak and Kellam and Oscar Smith nursing 18- and 16-game losing streaks, respectively, it's time to check the record books for best and worst streaks in state history.
The best winning streak, including playoffs, is owned by Lunenburg Central, which won 39 consecutive games from 1986 to 1989. Locally, Granby High won 32 from 1944 to 1946, according to records kept by former state Associated Press sports editor Marshall Johnson.
The worst losing streak is by Haysi, which dropped 43 from 1964 to 1969. Locally, Churchland has the worst run, losing 35 games on the field from 1986 to 1989, but one of those games was overturned by forfeit, making the streak officially 23 from 1987 to 1989.
MILESTONES: Green Run's Glenwood Ferebee has 3,216 career passing yards and needs 136 this week against First Colonial to move into the top five on the all-time South Hampton Roads passing list. Currently No. 5: Great Bridge's Tommy Rhodes (1966-67), with 3,351 yards. . . . Kempsville's Mike Pishioneri needs 24 yards rushing against Salem to reach 2,000. . . . Indian River's Shawndell Joyner needs 46 yards rushing against Wilson to reach 2,000. . . . Bayside's Jeff Wallace needs 169 yards passing against Princess Anne to surpass 2,000. by CNB