Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 16, 1994 TAG: 9402160108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Bob Teitlebaum
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Instead of hiring an experienced head coach or rehiring former Patrick Henry coach Dennis Vaught, who had been suspended this past year, the Blue Tornado made principal George Brown the new football coach.
Brown will continue as the school's principal and, according to athletic director Tom Rife, he is not an interim coach.
Will Vaught be back as an assistant? "That's up in the air, but he may come back," said Rife. "I know the first thing that comes to mind is that it's a smoke screen. I assure you it's not. George will be the coach solely 100 percent. He'll get the blame for whatever happens."
Vaught will have to apply to become an assistant. Terry Wess, this year's interim coach, didn't apply for the job as head coach, but he may return as an assistant.
Brown has been an assistant football and basketball coach at Richlands. His only head coaching experience was in track.
Vaught was the Patrick Henry coach for less than a year in 1998 when he left after uttering a racial remark during a halftime talk to the team. He surfaced at Richlands as head coach in 1991 and was suspended after admitting that his team used illegal cleats in the 1992 Group AA state semifinal playoff game against Salem.
by CNB