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1) You graduated from Holston High School, what was your most memorable sports moment from there?
I remember playing with some really good teammates. Guys that were fun to play with and we all got along well. The one moment that stands out is beating Rural Retreat late in the season at their place. We avenged a lost from earlier in the season at home and although I don’t remember stats I do remember feeling like I played well and contributed.
2) Was there any significant figure in your childhood or high school years that inspired you to become a coach?
The one person that stands out is my father. Even to this day I seek his advice and value his opinion. Growing up my dad always supported me and pushed me to be the very best I could be. My dad has always worked very hard and I will always remember that. I believe that you lead by example and watching how hard my father worked to support our family reinforces that principle.
As I got into coaching Dyer Jackson and Doug Reavis really impacted my coaching style. Coach Reavis was the football coach at Ft. Chiswell and I just remember his intensity and discipline. Coach Jackson helped to influence some of my basketball philosophy, especially when it comes to full court pressure. Today I look at what Bruce Pearl has done at the University of Tennessee and how he has taken an underachieving program and now has made them a consistent top 20 program. I have been fortunate to work camps and talk with Coach Pearl and his staff. They have a great family atmosphere and a dedication to hard work that is worth emulating.
3) What other coaching jobs have you had and how did you fare?
My first coaching job was as an assistant football coach in Halifax County Virginia. I was an assistant on the middle school football team and we ended up going 8-2. We had some great athletes, of course our high school had 1700 students and our middle school had about 1200. I then moved back to southwest Virginia and became the head 8th grade basketball coach at Ft. Chiswell Middle School for two years, also assisting with the varsity. Danny Jonas, the AD at Ft. Chiswell gave me my break in basketball and I will always be grateful. As far as my two years as an 8th grade coach we were a sub .500 team but I tried to get all of the guys fundamentally sound so when they went to the varsity level they would be more prepared. I do remember my last year at Ft. Chiswell the varsity had a pretty good season. We won eighteen regular season games but fell in the MED Finals which kept us from going to regionals.
4) What attracted you to the coaching job at Northwood?
I felt I was ready to take over as a head coach at the varsity level and actually saw a story by Tim Hayes in the Bristol Herald Courier that Coach Dunham had resigned. I remember dreading playing Northwood when I was in high school so there is some basketball tradition and we are very fortunate to have great facilities, some of the best in Virginia.
5) Is there one team you wish you could place on your schedule that you have not yet had an opportunity to?
Twin Valley would have to stand out. We played Twin Valley my first year and got drilled but that was around my fourth game as coach at Northwood. I believe Twin Valley is the measuring stick when it comes to Division 1 basketball in southwest Virginia (not taking anything away from Galax). There is a clear dedication to basketball and they are very well coached.
6) What opportunities do you see for this year's varsity Panther team?
I am very excited about this year’s team and think we have a chance to be special. The initial problem is that we are very young. We return only three players from last years’ team and NO starters. I see some growing pains early in the season but it will all depend on how this crop of juniors step up and play with the big boys. We have good ball-handling, really good shooters, and a two post players that are 6”7. However, when you deal with teenagers confidence is a huge factor. So far I like what I see out of our guys in practice. I can tell them how good they can be but until they see it and believe it themselves we are a big question mark. My job as coach is to show these guys how successful they can be and once they see that I believe this team can be the most successful team I have had here at Northwood. We want to compete, period. Whether it is in our non-district schedule, district, or regionals we want to show that we belong. I believe the hogoheegee will be very competitive. George Wythe will reload, Chilhowie will compete and is talented. Patrick Henry, Holston, and Rural Retreat will be better as well so we know that we will have to bring our A game every night. We hope to be back in the Regions this year and go farther than we did last year (won our first regional game but lost in regional semis)
7) Do you have any feelings toward the playoff structure adopted last year?
I like the playoff structure adopted last year but would like to see some changes, some of which we have already seen. It is tougher for smaller schools to compete and with the splitting of divisions I like the parity that is in single A basketball. I did not agree with the premise that everyone makes the regional tournament. I believe that is an honor that should be earned. I would also like to see more clarification when it comes to seeding. We were seeded 8th last year and felt due to our accomplishments we were higher than 8th. I am also watching to see if the VHSL adopts a five or even six division classification. Although I am a supporter of the current playoff system I would like to see closer numbers statewide. In the current system you may have a school from Region D like St. Paul with 200 students playing a school from Region A or B with 650 students. However, I am glad to see the VHSL addressing these issues
8) What is the single greatest coaching moment you've had at Northwood?
There are three that stand out for me. The first is beating Pocahontas to snap a 26 game losing streak. As I mentioned before confidence is one of the hardest things to instill in high school athletes and I was so proud of those guys that night to overcome what we faced the previous year. The second moment was beating Lebanon 68-55 at their place. It was only the third time Northwood had beaten Lebanon and the first time to ever win at their place. The last would have to be our victory over Bath County in the regionals last year. It was the first time Northwood has ever won a regional boys basketball game and it was very special to me and our team.
9) When you think of southwest Virginia or Hogoheegee basketball from years past, what players, coaches, and moments stick out in your mind?
Calvin Talford would definitely have to be number one. He was amazing to watch and see the things he accomplished on the basketball court. There are too many other athletes to mention although another stands out in my mind and this is Stephen Fields from Chilhowie. I remember being at Holston one night heckling him and he just smiled and started talking with us. I looked at a buddy of mine and we both agreed we couldn’t give him a hard time. That really stood out to me.
10) And, of course, what is your favorite website for high school sports?
I remember playing with some really good teammates. Guys that were fun to play with and we all got along well. The one moment that stands out is beating Rural Retreat late in the season at their place. We avenged a lost from earlier in the season at home and although I don’t remember stats I do remember feeling like I played well and contributed.
2) Was there any significant figure in your childhood or high school years that inspired you to become a coach?
The one person that stands out is my father. Even to this day I seek his advice and value his opinion. Growing up my dad always supported me and pushed me to be the very best I could be. My dad has always worked very hard and I will always remember that. I believe that you lead by example and watching how hard my father worked to support our family reinforces that principle.
As I got into coaching Dyer Jackson and Doug Reavis really impacted my coaching style. Coach Reavis was the football coach at Ft. Chiswell and I just remember his intensity and discipline. Coach Jackson helped to influence some of my basketball philosophy, especially when it comes to full court pressure. Today I look at what Bruce Pearl has done at the University of Tennessee and how he has taken an underachieving program and now has made them a consistent top 20 program. I have been fortunate to work camps and talk with Coach Pearl and his staff. They have a great family atmosphere and a dedication to hard work that is worth emulating.
3) What other coaching jobs have you had and how did you fare?
My first coaching job was as an assistant football coach in Halifax County Virginia. I was an assistant on the middle school football team and we ended up going 8-2. We had some great athletes, of course our high school had 1700 students and our middle school had about 1200. I then moved back to southwest Virginia and became the head 8th grade basketball coach at Ft. Chiswell Middle School for two years, also assisting with the varsity. Danny Jonas, the AD at Ft. Chiswell gave me my break in basketball and I will always be grateful. As far as my two years as an 8th grade coach we were a sub .500 team but I tried to get all of the guys fundamentally sound so when they went to the varsity level they would be more prepared. I do remember my last year at Ft. Chiswell the varsity had a pretty good season. We won eighteen regular season games but fell in the MED Finals which kept us from going to regionals.
4) What attracted you to the coaching job at Northwood?
I felt I was ready to take over as a head coach at the varsity level and actually saw a story by Tim Hayes in the Bristol Herald Courier that Coach Dunham had resigned. I remember dreading playing Northwood when I was in high school so there is some basketball tradition and we are very fortunate to have great facilities, some of the best in Virginia.
5) Is there one team you wish you could place on your schedule that you have not yet had an opportunity to?
Twin Valley would have to stand out. We played Twin Valley my first year and got drilled but that was around my fourth game as coach at Northwood. I believe Twin Valley is the measuring stick when it comes to Division 1 basketball in southwest Virginia (not taking anything away from Galax). There is a clear dedication to basketball and they are very well coached.
6) What opportunities do you see for this year's varsity Panther team?
I am very excited about this year’s team and think we have a chance to be special. The initial problem is that we are very young. We return only three players from last years’ team and NO starters. I see some growing pains early in the season but it will all depend on how this crop of juniors step up and play with the big boys. We have good ball-handling, really good shooters, and a two post players that are 6”7. However, when you deal with teenagers confidence is a huge factor. So far I like what I see out of our guys in practice. I can tell them how good they can be but until they see it and believe it themselves we are a big question mark. My job as coach is to show these guys how successful they can be and once they see that I believe this team can be the most successful team I have had here at Northwood. We want to compete, period. Whether it is in our non-district schedule, district, or regionals we want to show that we belong. I believe the hogoheegee will be very competitive. George Wythe will reload, Chilhowie will compete and is talented. Patrick Henry, Holston, and Rural Retreat will be better as well so we know that we will have to bring our A game every night. We hope to be back in the Regions this year and go farther than we did last year (won our first regional game but lost in regional semis)
7) Do you have any feelings toward the playoff structure adopted last year?
I like the playoff structure adopted last year but would like to see some changes, some of which we have already seen. It is tougher for smaller schools to compete and with the splitting of divisions I like the parity that is in single A basketball. I did not agree with the premise that everyone makes the regional tournament. I believe that is an honor that should be earned. I would also like to see more clarification when it comes to seeding. We were seeded 8th last year and felt due to our accomplishments we were higher than 8th. I am also watching to see if the VHSL adopts a five or even six division classification. Although I am a supporter of the current playoff system I would like to see closer numbers statewide. In the current system you may have a school from Region D like St. Paul with 200 students playing a school from Region A or B with 650 students. However, I am glad to see the VHSL addressing these issues
8) What is the single greatest coaching moment you've had at Northwood?
There are three that stand out for me. The first is beating Pocahontas to snap a 26 game losing streak. As I mentioned before confidence is one of the hardest things to instill in high school athletes and I was so proud of those guys that night to overcome what we faced the previous year. The second moment was beating Lebanon 68-55 at their place. It was only the third time Northwood had beaten Lebanon and the first time to ever win at their place. The last would have to be our victory over Bath County in the regionals last year. It was the first time Northwood has ever won a regional boys basketball game and it was very special to me and our team.
9) When you think of southwest Virginia or Hogoheegee basketball from years past, what players, coaches, and moments stick out in your mind?
Calvin Talford would definitely have to be number one. He was amazing to watch and see the things he accomplished on the basketball court. There are too many other athletes to mention although another stands out in my mind and this is Stephen Fields from Chilhowie. I remember being at Holston one night heckling him and he just smiled and started talking with us. I looked at a buddy of mine and we both agreed we couldn’t give him a hard time. That really stood out to me.
10) And, of course, what is your favorite website for high school sports?
Two websites stand out. The one that I have followed since I have been coaching is Virginia Preps. I am impressed with what Zirkle and Robert Blakey have done with reporting high school athletics in Virginia. I was honored last year to be a part of the “Coaches Corner” segment and I have been able to follow certain teams and even get scouting reports from this site. The second would have to be Hogoheegee.com. It is great to see our district get further exposure and I like the way the site is laid out. I check both of these sites daily and am honored that you would choose me to do this interview.
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