NEWS-BREAK

Snow resigns as WHS head football coach

Steve Behr, sports@wataugademocrat.com

Watauga head football coach Adrian Snow has resigned at Watauga and will be the new football coach at West Forsyth.

Snow, who has been the coach at Watauga for four years, led the Pioneers to the semifinals of the state 4-A playoffs the last two seasons. Watauga was 11-4 last season and 12-3 in 2006. It was the first time Watauga had reached that far in the playoffs since they won the 1978 state 3-A championship.

Snow, 34, replaced Mike Hudson, who moved to Maryland after the 2003 season. Snow was the offensive coordinator at West Forsyth before taking the job at Watauga in 2004.

Snow, who is from Surry County and is a graduate of Surry Central High, said West Forsyth is located about 20 minutes away from where he grew up. Snow said being familiar with West Forsyth played a role in changing schools.

“I think it will be a really good move,” Snow said. “It’s a good place. I’ve be there before and there’s some familiarity with it.”

Watauga went 2-8 in Snow’s first year and 4-7 in his second season using the veer offense Snow used at West Forsyth. But the Pioneers, who switched to the spread offense that best utilized the running skills of All-State back Eric Breitenstein, had a breakout season in 2006 when they reached the state 4-A semifinals, losing to West Charlotte 21-0.

A game before that, the Pioneers knocked off No. 1-seeded A.C. Reynolds 24-23 after losing to the Rockets 31-6 during the regular season.

Last year, Watauga beat Freedom and A.C. Reynolds during the regular season and grabbed a share of the NWC championship. Watauga was the No. 1 seed of the 4-A western playoffs, but lost to Mount Tabor in the western finals.

He said turning a program around that had made the playoffs just twice since the 1980s was something he’ll remember about coaching at Watauga.

“Basically, turning something around,” he said. “I told the kids today I feel they are on solid footing. Whoever comes in next comes in with a lot of high expectations.”

For more of this story, check Friday’s edition of the Watauga Democrat.