THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995              TAG: 9502150171
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 22   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

NORCOM COACH, AD SAYS IT'S TIME TO SLOW DOWN

JOE LANGSTON IS stepping down as indoor track coach at Norcom High School at the close of this season.

Since Norcom first started indoor track in 1974, Langston has been G1BLJOE17 Langston the coach.

``I told my team on Friday, the day before we finished up the Southeastern District meet,'' said Langston, whose team was fifth.

Langston still plans to coach outdoor track in the spring.

Also the athletic director and head football coach at Norcom, Langston said his decision ``is only for indoor track at this time.''

He coached Norcom's football team to the Group AAA state championship in 1993 and was named the state high school coach of the year. The past season his football team won eight of 10 games.

Langston, 53, suffered a life-threatening stomach aneurysm in January, 1994. He was hospitalized for 10 days after emergency surgery and then took a three-month leave of absence. Aides filled in for him in both indoor and outdoor track last year although Langston was on the scene for the season-ending district meet.

This school year Langston assumed additional duties as Norcom's athletic director.

``Now it's about time to slow down a little and let some of the younger coaches take over,'' said Langston. ``I've never been into indoor track as much as some of the others. You know Norcom is the only school in the district without a hard-surfaced track. In the bad weather it's just impossible for us to practice properly.''

Repeating an earlier comment after his surgery, Langston said he is not certain about what the future holds. ``But I know how important sports can be to these young kids. And I know how important these young kids are to me.''

In Langston's 21 years as football coach he has become Portsmouth's winningest coach. His teams have won 142, lost 74 and tied four.

When outdoor track had only dual meets, he led Norcom to more than 125 victories with five losses. He has won 10 district track titles and tied for another. by CNB