Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 24, 1990 TAG: 9007240060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At the rate the former Virginia Tech basketball standout has been going, he has been tough to keep up with.
The most momentous of recent events for Ashford was the birth July 18 of his first child, Bryan Maurice Ashford. Not as dramatic but important nevertheless was his decision to resign as the head coach of the girls' and boys' basketball teams at Floyd County to take an assistant's job at William Fleming.
"Since I've been living in Roanoke, the travel back and forth to Floyd has been getting to be a little much," he said. "Also, coaching two sports has been pretty much of a hectic pace. I wanted to cut back and I think this is going to be the best thing for me and my family."
Ashford, a special education teacher at Floyd County, will be doubly difficult to replace. The high school has few teaching openings now, which will limit its options, assistant principal Rudy Haden said.
It is hoped a new coach will be hired sometime in early August. Girls' practice starts soon after. The job is being advertised, and there is a possibility Ashford's replacement will be found inside the school system, Haden said.
Ashford will be a special education teacher and work on Burrall Paye's staff at Fleming. His duties have yet to be determined, Paye said.
"He'll be a tremendous asset to our staff," Paye said. "I tried to get him four or five years ago; now I've got him."
Ashford went to Floyd County in 1985. He has coached cross country and junior varsity boys' basketball as well as boys' and girls' varsity.
Ashford took over the boys' program in August 1988 under trying circumstances. An assistant at the time, Ashford succeeded veteran coach Skip Bishop, who had been fired. Ashford said then that he admired Bishop and found it uncomfortable to assume command.
Bishop has a pending $2 million lawsuit against high school principal Joe Bean, former county school board chairman Arnold Simmons, and the board itself.
Ashford's girls teams went 35-10 over his two seasons. The boys' teams went 23-23.
by CNB