ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 23, 1996 TAG: 9604230103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Marshall Ashford has declined an opportunity to take over the boys' basketball program at William Fleming.
Ashford's decision, which is a surprise in view of the success he had after taking over the program from Burrall Paye in midseason, leaves three of the five Roanoke Valley District schools still looking for boys' basketball coaches.
Worse, it gives Fleming a late start in its search for a coach. Fellow RVD schools Patrick Henry and Cave Spring have known for more than a month they would have vacancies.
Ashford said he decided not to continue as head coach because of family obligations. Ashford and his wife, Linda, have a 5-year-old son and a 22-month-old daughter.
Ashford played guard at Virginia Tech before serving as the head boys' and girls' coach at Floyd County. He took over at Fleming on Jan.19 after Paye announced his retirement rather than face a potential suspension because of an incident during practice.
Under Ashford, the Colonels went 11-4 and won the RVD regular-season and tournament titles. They beat J.E.B. Stuart of Falls Church 100-87 in overtime in a first-round Group AAA tournament game that will stand as one of the classic victories in the school's history before ultimately falling to Hopewell in a semifinal.
``The amount of time [the head coach's job] requires is more than I can give with small children,'' Ashford said. ``It's a year-round thing. I am going to continue to work as an assistant coach if whomever they bring in wants me to stay on.''
When he moved up from his position as Paye's assistant, Ashford told William Fleming's principal, Alyce Szathmary, that he would serve as head coach for the rest of the season, but that he would not be able to let her know if he wanted to retain that position until after the season.
``It's one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, and Linda left it up to me,'' Ashford said. ``After the season, I wanted to do it one week, and then the next week some things came up where I needed to take my children someplace.
``I know [Group] AAA jobs are hard to find, especially ones as good as this one. No doubt my success made me take a closer look. Had it been a different time in my life, I would have taken the job.''
Szathmary said she understood Ashford's decision.
``He was wonderful and it was his job,'' she said. ``I thought he was going to take the job and that it was a done deal, and I know how he feels.''
Sherley Stuart, Fleming's athletic director, said the vacancy has been advertised.
``Marshall and I hadn't sat down and talked,'' Stuart said. ``I was hoping he would take the job. No question if he wanted the job, he had it.''
Patrick Henry's Woody Deans started the RVD boys' basketball coaching carousel spinning by announcing in January that he was retiring after the season.
Cave Spring's Chris Carr resigned after the season to enter private business.
The PH job closes its application period this week, and few names have come forth in connection with the job other than assistant Bo Blankenship, former Cave Spring coach Rick Crotts, former University of South Carolina and Blacksburg basketball player Rick Aydlett, former Roanoke College coach Ed Green and Luray athletic director and former Albemarle coach Rich Lyons.
Bobby Martin, who was forced out at Bassett this month, is a likely applicant at William Fleming.
Billy Hicks is thought to have the inside track on the job at Cave Spring, where he was an assistant to Carr.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB