DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9708030088

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: HERTFORD                          LENGTH:   63 lines

FOR THE PIRATES, IT'LL BE A SEASON OF LEARNING WITH THE NEW COACH.

Bobby Rast, a former assistant coach at Atlantic Shores High School and Elizabeth City State University, has been named the new head football coach at Perquimans County High School.

According to Elaine Pritchard, principal at Perquimans High School, Rast has been given an interim contract pending approval by the Perquimans County Board of Education. He also will teach world history at the high school.

Rast, 38, replaces Andy Hunt, who left the Pirates after just two years to take an assistant coaching position in the Raleigh area.

After coaching at Atlantic Shores High School in Virginia Beach, Rast was hired in March to be the offensive coordinator at Elizabeth City State University. He coached spring practice there, but never coached in a live game.

Rast met with parents and players Thursday night and held the team's first practice on Friday. Rast said 43 varsity and junior varsity players showed up for the meeting on Thursday.

``We expect a few more that were out of town. I hope that we get a good number of kids, but whatever shows up, we're going to work with them,'' Rast said as he adjusted equipment on the practice field. ``I'm sure the kids that want to play football are going to show up for practice, and that's who we'll work hard with.

``I don't believe the kids care who's coaching. It's the overall program, not the coach,'' Rast added. ``The community is solid, and the kids desire to play football no matter who's here, and that's going to be my blessing.''

Despite being hired just days before practice was scheduled to start, Rast said he doesn't feel like the team is behind. He is even willing to keep an endowment game with Northeastern on the schedule.

``We've been blessed that this didn't happen next week,'' Rast said. ``Coach (Bob) Turner was asked to pick up the slack, and he has done an excellent job of staying in contact with the kids, and they've stayed motivated in the weight room, so I don't think we're behind. If anything, I'm just having to get my priorities straight and get ready for the season.''

Putting in a new offense is usually the hardest part of being a new coach at a new school. Rast said he will keep the Pirates' offense simple and use what abilities the players have.

``We will run a multiple-look offense. I will do things that I know well. If we're going to have to stay basic, then that's what we will do,'' Rast said. ``We will try to exploit the abilities that the kids have. I want them to capitalize on what they've been blessed with.''

Rast said the offense will be ready for the first game. ``We will teach the same fundamentals, no matter what formation we line up in,'' he said.

Rast said he stresses defense, and on the first three days of practice, he will look for the best talent to play on the defensive side of the ball.

``I definitely believe defense is the most important thing. We're going to approach that in our selection of putting our best people on the field,'' he said. ``I don't know the kids personally. I have to get to know the kids, and the other coaches are going to help me with that. The next three days are purely evaluative-type practices.''

On Friday, Rast was already wearing a ``1997 Perquimans Football'' T-shirt to practice. Most things, he said, were taken care of for him when he arrived at the school this week.

``Every individual in this community has been more than desirous to help,'' he said. ``The tradition in this program has always existed, no matter who's at the helm. The people in this community love the kids, and they look out for them.''

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