Green to take over for Albemarle football program

Just a few weeks after 13-year football coach Rick Vrhovac announced his resigination, the Albemarle football team found a tentative replacement.

After an hour-long meeting Tuesday morning, Patriots athletic director Deb Tyson named Wendell Green interim coach.

“The timing of all of this was certainly challenging,” Tyson said.  “This was a way to minimize the change among our athletes.  We’re excited about Wendell. He brings a lot of football knowledge and a lot of positive energy to the program.”

Green, who received his masters in education from UVa, has been with the Albemarle football team for the past three seasons. Prior to joining the Patriots, Green spent time with Charlottesville and Orange County.

“I think this was about being in the right place at the right time,” Green said.  “I’m looking forward to continuing my work here at Albemarle.  They’ve always been great to me and my family.”

After Vrhovac left, Tyson was left between a rock and a hard place with the traditional hiring season having passed months ago.  The Patriots also didn’t have a teaching position available to offer with the job.  Green solved that problem, as he is already on staff as physical education teacher.

This is Green’s first job as a head coach but he has been invloved with football all his life.  The Miami native played collegiately at Glenville State under then-coach Rich Rodriguez, now at Michigan.

“Between playing for Rodriguez, who invented the spread offense, and coaching at Charlottesville, Orange and here at Albemarle, I feel like I’m prepared for this job,” Green said.

Rather than forcing players into a particular system, Green plans on combing through his roster first.

“Basically, right now we’re going to work on becoming a fundamentaling sound football team,” Green said.  “We’re going to evaluate each player and then use the system that fits them the best.”

Albemarle has a number of voids to fill.  Gone are quarterback Jeremy Robinson and star wide receiver Zach Vrhovac.  However, Green does inherit track phenom Jordan Hill, entering his senior year at the school.

The Patriots began their summer training program on Monday and open up camp on Aug. 3.