By Marty Gordon
Auburn High School is among two athletic programs seeking a new wrestling coach. Auburn has been without a wrestling team for the past three years, but athletic director Paul Dominy said there has been a lot of interest in the past year, and the school will jumpstart the program this year.
“Our problems with wrestling were with COVID and an uneasiness that parents and students had with grappling following that. We also have not had a coach for the last two seasons and could not therefore sponsor a team,” he said.
Also, Christiansburg is looking for a new head coach for a program, which has been down after winning 17-straight titles in the Class 3 ranks. The streak came to a screeching halt four years ago. Since then, the school has been scratching its way back with underclassman Brady Hand claiming a state championship this past year.
Christiansburg had been the hottest dynasty before they were dethroned in 2019 by New Kent, who was led by a former Christiansburg assistant coach.
Injuries and the lack of depth has the Blue Demons forfeiting five or six weight classes at almost every meet.
Cody Hughes, who was in his second year, is leading the program through a rebuilding phase.
Over the years, this has been one of the most consistent in the state of Virginia and maybe the entire southeast. The local program has produced three NCAA All Americans, five four-time state champs, six three-time state champs, 50 state champs and 86 state place winners.
The team championships of 17 is one of the top records in the state of Virginia and one of the most successful in the Eastern United States. In most cases, the current Christiansburg wrestlers were not even born when their school won the first state championship of the consecutive run.
Auburn is also looking for a new football coach after David Seabaugh announced his resignation. Auburn has not completed a full season in the past two years with the lack of depth and the numbers game.
Again, Dominy remains optimistic the school can field a full team this coming year.
“We are currently in the process of taking and evaluating applications and expect to have a new coach in place before the end of the school year,” the athletic director said.
Meanwhile, Christiansburg also needs a new girls’ cross-country coach. The position is being advertised on the Montgomery County job site.
Eastern Montgomery High School is also looking for a new boys’ basketball coach while Auburn has an opening for the girls’ head coaching job.
All of the Montgomery County high schools are also advertising the search for athletic trainers.
Another crucial opening in the area includes the volleyball job at Pulaski County. Also nearby, Giles County High School is in need for a cross country and soccer coach, and Narrows for cross country, girls’ tennis, softball and soccer.