ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601110025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-9 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HIGH SCHOOLS
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
Woody Deans might not be the only big-name Timesland coach heading off into the sunset when the basketball season ends in March.
There is a possibility William Fleming's Burrall Paye, the other half of a Roanoke coaching rivalry that has made for some interesting moments, will follow Deans into retirement.
The only thing keeping Paye from joining Deans is the pursuit of his 500th coaching victory. To reach that milestone, Paye will have to coach at least one more season.
``It's give and go. Some days I'm going to stay, and some days I'm going to go,'' Paye said.
He won't make a decision until the end of the season. He has told several people this will be his last season, but in the next breath he reverses himself and throws in the word ``maybe.''
If someone could pinpoint a reason for either coach leaving, it would be burnout more than anything else. They won't say so, but high school coaching isn't what it was 15 or 20 years ago.
In Deans' case, it also is a matter of having had his holidays and summers tied up with fund-raising, tournaments and camps, of which his team went to as many as six a year.
Paye has run a summer league every year to try to improve his team. Both coaches are meticulous about scouting their opponents. If they can see a team their squad is scheduled to play, Paye and Deans are there watching, maybe catching an opponent for the sixth or seventh time to try to gain an edge.
Who will succeed Deans? The City of Roanoke schools should have plenty of applicants. The most prominent names are Andy Gray, a former William Fleming assistant and current coach of Gar-Field in Dale City; and Liberty coach Mark Hanks.
Gray, who played at William Byrd and was an assistant to Paye, wants to move back to the Roanoke Valley. But he might not be willing to leave Gar-Field, which has a strong program.
Hanks was an assistant at Pulaski County before moving to Liberty and establishing the Minutemen as a premier Group AA program. However, he is very attached to the Bedford community.
Another potential move after the season is Charlie Morgan leaving Salem if the head coach's job opens at Science Hill in Johnson City, Tenn. There have been reports George Pitts, Science Hill's coach, will move on, possibly to an NCAA Division I job. If so, Morgan, a longtime assistant to Pitts, would have to be considered a leading candidate.
There also is an outside possibility the PH job might hold some interest for Morgan, but it's much too early to say
FOR THE RECORD: When Paye was suspended from coaching Fleming's game against Franklin County in the consolation round of the NationsBank Holiday Hoops Classic, there was a question as to who would get credit for the Colonels' 77-47 victory: Paye or assistant Marshall Ashford, who filled in as head coach.
It was a key question in light of Paye's pursuit of a 500th career victory.
The agencies that govern high school and college athletics, and deal with counting career victories, have no rule. The National Federation of State High School Associations says any Virginia High School League rule would determine whether the victory counts on Paye's record or that of Ashford. The VHSL, which relies on former Associated Press state sports editor Marshall Johnson to compile state records, has no rule.
The NCAA says coaches missing a game because of illness or injury, still can be credited with the victory. They've never been asked about the record of a coach suspended for a game.
This is good news for Paye, who will receive credit for the victory and through Thursday needed 15 to reach 500.
FUZZY EXITS:While on the subject of coaches leaving after long tenures, Cave Spring's only softball coach, Fuzzy Minnix, is giving up those duties.
Minnix, who also is a member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and is a football and basketball official, was there when the Knights first fielded a team in 1988.
Minnix was forced to give up the Cave Spring job - as well as his duties as head football coach at Hidden Valley Junior High School - when he took a position working air-traffic control at the Lynchburg airport.
``It's an hour over there and an hour back each day,'' Minnix said. ``I had hoped to adjust my schedule to continue coaching. Due to the small number of personnel, it would have an affect on their schedule. I'll still be able to continue officiating on a limited basis.''
The Knights, who first battled Salem and then Franklin County for supremacy in Roanoke Valley District softball, have won the regular-season and tournament titles in the district the past four years
``The first couple of years, we had only 10 or 12 games,'' said Minnix, referring to a time when the Knights and Salem, then in the RVD, were the only district members playing softball. ``Then, William Fleming and Patrick Henry came into it in softball.''
Minnix has recommended his assistant, Lynn Saunders, take over as coach. It appears Saunders has the inside track.
PLUM JOB: There is at least one other big boys' basketball job open in the area close to Timesland now that longtime George Washington-Danville mentor Harry Johnson has announced this will be his last season.
Dave Brown, the school's athletic director, said applications will be taken later this year and that the job will be thrown open to all candidates.
One of Johnson's assistants, Chris Carter, may be the one to beat for the job.
ARBY'S CHAMP: Science Hill of Johnson City, Tenn., which opens the Crestar Roundball Classic against William Fleming at 3 p.m. Jan.20, won the prestigious Arby's Classic by knocking off Franklin-Simpson, Ky., 88-50.
The Hilltoppers, ranked No.3 in the nation by USA Today, stretched their winning streak to 38 games with the victory Dec.31. They became the fourth team to win two Arby's titles. One of the others is Patrick Henry, which won in 1987 and 1991 before going on to capture Group AAA titles each of those seasons under Deans.
Two Roanoke-area coaches - Morgan, to visit friends at Science Hill, and Paye, on a scouting assignment - saw Science Hill's victory in the championship game.
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