ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
The winds of change continue to blow through the Pioneer District.
First, longtime Parry McCluer football coach Bob Williams retired two years ago. This fall, Williams was inducted into the Virginia High School League/Virginia High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
This season, Glenvar switched from the Pioneer to the Three Rivers District. That robbed the Pioneer of more tradition and left it with only five football-playing schools.
Now, John Woodzell, the longtime Covington football coach, has announced he will retire following the season. Woodzell will coach his last game Friday at Glenvar, ending a career with the Cougars that started when he became an assistant coach at the school in 1973.
``It's time. I've been around a long time,'' said Woodzell, 64. ``I talked about retiring with the folks at the school last spring. They asked me to reconsider, give it some time. I'm leaving while people still want me.''
Woodzell took over as head coach at Covington in 1981 and guided the Cougars from the Group AA Blue Ridge District into Group A, where they prospered.
His 1984 team was his best, going 13-1 and winning a Group A title. That season started with a 9-6 loss to Giles and ended with a 13-6 victory over perennial power Lunenburg Central.
``I told the players last week and they seemed to be pretty emotional,'' said Woodzell, whose teams have compiled a 112-59-1 record. ``I have a pretty good relationship with them and it's affected them some bit.''
Woodzell also is giving up teaching. ``I want to be more involved with the ministries of my church, catch up on my hunting and fishing and get to know my grandson more,'' he said.
This season hasn't been a good one for Woodzell and Covington. The Cougars have struggled to a 2-7 record that will match the worst of his career unless Covington win its regular-season finale against Glenvar.
``It would have been nice for the last one to be better, but we've had a hard time getting things together this year,'' said Woodzell. ``One thing or another has made it more difficult.''
Woodzell directs one of Timesland's most experienced coaching staffs. Brad Morton, the Covington boys' basketball coach, and Harold Lambert have been with Woodzell since he took over as head coach. Mark Weiss joined them a few years later. Morton has to be considered Woodzell's likely successor, should he pursue the position.
The Cougars have won 10 or more games in a season five times during Woodzell's tenure. While this season hasn't been a success from a won-lost standpoint, his team shocked defending Group A Division 2 champion Bath County on Friday in a game that will make it hard for the Chargers to return to the playoffs this year.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB