THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407010234
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 63 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: GATESVILLE LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Donnie Kiefer, who led the Gates County High School football program from mediocrity to the state playoffs in all of his three years as coach, has resigned his position as head football coach and athletic director.
Kiefer has accepted the position of head football coach at Andrews High School in Andrews, N.C.
Andrews is a 1A school in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
The Barons were 2-8 in 1990 before Kiefer's arrival.
In 1991, Kiefer turned Gates around to score a 10-4 record and a perfect 6-0 record in the AlbemarleConference.
The Barons went to the 1A state semifinals before bowing to Rosewood, 15-6.
In 1992, Gates went 11-2-1 and 5-1 in the conference.
Once again, the Barons reached the 1A state semifinals before falling to Lakewood, 13-12.
In 1993, Kiefer led the Barons to a fourth place finish in the Albemarle Conference and another birth in the state playoffs.
``He just wanted a change,'' said Gates County High School Principal Tommy Lawrence. ``He cold have stayed as long as he wanted.''
Lawrence said the Gates County Board of Education is expected to name a new head coach at its July 6 meeting. by CNB