THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 3, 1995 TAG: 9505030557
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Looking for a man who can rebuild a struggling football program, Oscar Smith High School is set to go with an architect who has done it before.
Bill Lyons, who took Warwick High School from the depths of the Peninsula District to the state finals, is expected to be introduced as the Tigers' new football coach at a news conference at 2:15 p.m. today.
Lyons would neither confirm nor deny his hiring Tuesday. Oscar Smith principal Glen Koonce was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
``I've been asked not to make any comment on that, and I'm going to honor that request,'' Lyons said.
Lyons was 69-77-3 at Warwick in 14 years, with his best years coming in 1986 and 1990. The Raiders finished 9-4-1 and lost, 7-6, to Thomas Edison in the 1986 Group AAA, Division II state final. Four years later, Warwick won the Eastern Region Division 5 title, beating an Aaron Sparrow-led Wilson High team, 22-21. That Warwick squad lost in the state semifinals and finished 9-4.
``I'll tell you one thing, they've gotten themselves a fine man and a good coach,'' Hampton High football coach Mike Smith said. ``He has great knowledge of the game,and he's a players' coach.
Lyons' last three teams went 3-7, 2-8 and 1-9 as the Raiders were victimized by limited talent and dwindling numbers. He resigned as Warwick's football coach after last season. He previously coached in West Virginia for three years and was at Group AA York High for five seasons.
Oscar Smith has gone 33-76-1 in the last 11 years and last posted a winning record in 1983, when the Tigers were 7-2-1 under George Quarles.
But two two factors that could help a coach turn the program around are increased enrollment following a rezoning in Chesapeake and a new facility.
Meanwhile, Wilson High has received 15 applications for its head football coaching opening and will continue accepting applications through May 8. Athletic director Dave Willett said the school expects to interview six to eight candidates. by CNB