Little to lead Eagles

The Covenant School has a new football coach.

Rich Little has been appointed as interim head coach, replacing newly-hired Dan Baranik, who resigned earlier this summer, citing personal reasons.

Little takes over the program from the school’s first coach, Mark Sanford, who left to coach at William Monroe High School.

“We’re excited about this coming year with Rich leading the way,” said Covenant athletic director Doug Smethurst. “Coach Little will do a great job for us this fall. With his outstanding character and experience, we have every confidence that he will lead our program forward.”

Little, who will teach eighth-grade history at the school, will also coach boys lacrosse, taking the reins from Dave Breslin, who accepted a position at the Wesleyan School in Norcross, Ga.

Little has coached football at Bishop McNamara (Md.), the Blue Ridge School and St. Anne’s-Belfield.

Joining Little in the Eagles’ program is Fred O’Connor, Sr., who will serve as a consultant/special assistant. O’Connor has over 40 years of coaching experience in college and in the NFL. He was interim head coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 as well as a position coach for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins.

Covenant will hold a players and parents’ meeting at the school on Friday, and the first day of practice will be on Monday.

STAB lacrosse honored by LaxPower

St. Anne’s-Belfield’s Howie Long, Owen Van Arsdale and coach Doug Tarring were recently recognized by LaxPower.com for their accomplishments on the lacrosse field in the spring.

Tarring, who stepped down from coaching after 31 years, piloted the Saints to the state championship and was named regional coach of the year. Under his tenure, STAB won seven state lacrosse titles.

The Saints finished the year at 18-2 and ranked 40th in the LaxPower national poll, which included over 3,000 high schools. Tarring, who compiled a 401-132 record at STAB, is the all-time winningest coach in state history.

Long, who will play lacrosse at UVa next year, led a stingy Saints’ defense that allowed just over six goals a game. He earned All-American honors twice and collected 265 ground balls in his career.

Owen Van Arsdale, who helped lead a potent STAB offense, and goalkeeper Austin Geisler were also named All-Americans.

Central Virginia coaches recognized at VHSCA banquet

Three area coaches were honored at the Virginia High School Coaches Association banquet in Hampton earlier this month.

Fluvanna County’s Munro Rateau earned coach of the year honors for boys basketball. The veteran coach eclipsed the 400-win mark last season.

Albemarle’s Buz Male, who guided the Patriots to their first Group AAA indoor championship, earned state

indoor track coach of the year honors. Western Albemarle’s Lindy Bain, who piloted the Warriors to the Group AA outdoor title, was selected as coach of the year for outdoor track.

Fall football begins

Most area schools start football practice on Monday, but members of Louisa County’s team will take to the field a little earlier.

As they have done the past few years, the Lions will hold a “Midnight Madness” football practice — starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

The community is encouraged to come out and support the varsity program as it begins the 2009 season.

Also next Monday, Louisa’s field hockey, JV football, volleyball, golf, cheerleading and cross country will start practice. All athletes must have a current VHSL physical in order to try out.

In other high school football news:

- Charlottesville High School will hold its first football practice on Monday at 3 p.m. Equipment will be issued Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for rising 8th-12th graders. For questions, contact coach Chris Fraser at 245-2716 or .

- Sports physicals will be given to Orange County athletes on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Hornet Sports Center. The cost is $20 and all students must have a current physical in order to participate in a fall sport.

Football equipment will be handed out on Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. in the locker room. Practice will be held Aug. 5 from 8-11 a.m.

Also on Monday, Orange County’s volleyball team will hold tryouts from 4-7 p.m. at the Hornet Sports Center; field hockey will practice from 8-11 a.m. on the field behind Prospect Heights Middle School; cross country will practice at 7 p.m. at the Hornet Sports Center. JV football practice begins Aug. 10 at 6 p.m.

- Madison County will hold varsity football tryouts on Monday from 8:30-11 a.m. and 5:30-8:15 p.m. The volleyball team will practice from 4-6:30 p.m. in Wetsel Gym; golf will begin at 8:30 a.m. in front of the high school; and cross country will practice from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Young Farmers Pavilion.