ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 TAG: 9701150053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY
Phil Culicerto told his mother during Christmas break that he didn't like his chances of becoming Hampden-Sydney College's new football coach. He will have to tell her something different now.
Culicerto on Tuesday was named the Tigers' new head coach, replacing former Roanoke resident Joe Bush, who stepped down after this past season to concentrate on his duties as H-SC's athletic director.
``To be the head coach is a great, great dream,'' said Culicerto, the Tigers' offensive coordinator for the past 11 years.
Before coming to Hampden-Sydney, Culicerto was a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech and was a Hokies quarterback from 1979 to 1982 - mostly on the scout team.
Culicerto said, however, that playing more in practice than in games may have benefited him as a coach.
``One week I'd be the Alabama quarterback, the next I'd be Florida State,'' said the Beckley, W.Va., native. ``Sometimes running an offense, I'd say, `This is fun,' and sometimes I'd say, `Who wants to run this?'''
Culicerto will keep all of the Tigers' current assistants on staff.
LENGTH: Short : 30 linesby CNB