rvtne216 278 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 From the Blacksburg Touchdown Club Facebook page BHS Announces New Head Football Coach Blacksburg, VA: Thad Wells, from Walterboro, South Carolina, has been named the new Head Football Coach at Blacksburg High School. Wells spent the last year as the Assistant Athletic Director, Head Football Coach and History teacher at Colleton Preparatory Academy. Prior to that, he spent time as an assistant coach at Radford, Virginia High and Richlands High Schools. BHS Athletic Director Peter Lyell states: “It is with great pleasure and anticipation that I welcome our new head football coach, Mr. Thad Wells to the Blacksburg Athletics Family. I have tremendous respect for Coach Wells as a football coach and, more importantly, as a person--the person who will lead our young men and shape the future of our program for years to come.â€Wells is a graduate of Richlands High School where he played under current Coach Greg Mance. He was a 3-year starter and led the team to the state semi-finals as the starting quarterback and safety his senior year. He received his undergraduate degree from Radford University and his Masters from Liberty University. Wells coached under Mance for 2 years at Richlands. “His commitment to coaching was far about and beyond anything I had previously experienced. He consistently brought players in before and after practice to watch film or to go over schemes. His knowledge of the game and his ability to relate to the players were very special--so special, I relinquished the offensive play-calling duties over to Thad. We went 9-2 and averaged 30 points a game,†Mance states. Wells has a very clear philosophy. “My time at Richlands, Radford and Virginia High has given me a blueprint for building a program, not just a team. Winning is important, however, we will be a team built on a foundation of integrity, respect and hard work.†Wells’ family is excited about coming back to the area. “My wife and I lived in Blacksburg for four years while we finished college and while I coached at Radford. There is no other coaching job in Virginia that I want. We love the community and we are committed to being a positive aspect of it. I love the people that live there and I know what kind of talent is in the school system. It is the community I want my son and future children to be raised in.†The school plans to introduce Wells and his family at the upcoming winter Pep Rally on Friday, February 13th. Wells' appointment is pending board approval. BlueRazor, futbolking, Bigrhsfan and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V-Cats 472 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 4 years, 4 different coaching jobs Bearcat Bob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,552 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 4 years, 4 different coaching jobs Moving up the ladder each time. That's what you do as an assistant. You should be thankful for the year he gave you guys. Wish him all the best up there. He will have some challenges, but he can do it if given time. V-Cats, hhstigers7327 and BlueRazor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Bob 491 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 I guess taking basically a lateral transfer as head coach at one school to another is "moving up the ladder". Nothing against this guy at all...I do not know him, but coaches who have happy feet rarely succeed in the long term. Maybe he has simply been trying to get to the current job and those other jobs were stepping stones. Time will tell. Side bar...Ryan, retract your claws and stop typing. This is an observation based upon years of experience and not an indictment on Richlands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenado5 12 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,552 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Claws? That was hardly claws, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixcat 2,919 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Is it not possible that this guy wanted to come back closer to home? I don't know him but assuming his wife is from this area as well, it makes sense he would not stay in South Carolina if given a reasonable opportunity locally. redtiger, Ryan4VT, rvtne216 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Is it not possible that this guy wanted to come back closer to home? I don't know him but assuming his wife is from this area as well, it makes sense he would not stay in South Carolina if given a reasonable opportunity locally. Yes, had a lot to do with being closer to "home"... http://www.colletontoday.com/news/cpa-football-coach-to-leave-sports-the-press-and-standard/article%202f539330-b096-11e4-bb2e-639ac9922f98.html I guess that's a concept a lot folks just don't understand nowadays...<cough>Bob</cough>... Ryan4VT, rvtne216, cityofRaven and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
44cov3 55 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Great to hear for Thad, great young coach. I hope he is flexible because i'm not sure if Blacksburg is a spread passing team; hes also in a very tough conference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Bob 491 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 I hope Blacksburg works out for the guy. I have always liked that program/school. I liked their old coach and I like his son. Believe me, I understand the nuances associated with keeping the little lady happy by moving closer to "home". I was able to hold out longer than most. I figured saying something "less than glowing" about a former Richlander would garner a few responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 I figured saying something "less than glowing" about a former Richlander would garner a few responses. Ironically, the two that called you out are not Richlands fans... Bearcat Bob, Bigrhsfan and BlueRazor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Bob 491 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Oh well, it was worth a try. The Blue 'Nadors have been awfully quiet this basketball season. Thought I would throw them a bone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Oh well, it was worth a try. The Blue 'Nadors have been awfully quiet this basketball season. Thought I would throw them a bone. Their day is coming... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan4VT 4,552 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Their day is coming... This. We are a team that has lost a lot of games by close margins with a team full of mostly sophomores. It's coming. And we all knew it wasn't this season. Bigrhsfan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueRazor 1,147 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 It absolutely had a lot to do with being back close to home. The whole family are big Va Tech fans and both of his sisters are students at Va. Tech. It will be a big challenge for him but he will work and put in as much time as anybody. I am excited for him and his family and wish him and Blacksburg well. It will be interesting to see if he can move them in the direction of the spread offense. It may be difficult to bring a successful change. Good luck Coach Wells and Blacksburg! Bigrhsfan and Ryan4VT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigrhsfan 884 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 "There is no other coaching job in Virginia that I want. We love the community and we are committed to being a positive aspect of it. I love the people that live there and I know what kind of talent is in the school system. It is the community I want my son and future children to be raised in." Well, I wish Thad well and hope he has great success ! I was always hoping that he might come back to Richlands to take over whenever coach Mance decided to retire, but after reading this quote from him, I am not so sure he will come back here. But if Blacksburg is where he and his family are happy, then that is where he should be . BlueRazor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Bob 491 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 That is "Coach Speak 101"... would not expect for him to say anything other than that. Do not give up hope...if the R-lands job opens, he will probably throw his hat in the ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundercloud 179 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Come on Bob admit it, your wishing he was them Bearcats's coach. BlueRazor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Bob 491 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 It does not really matter who coaches at VHS...the "boosters" will run him off in a year or two. I say bring back Fred Fisher and Burrhead Bradley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Come on Bob admit it, your wishing he was them Bearcats's coach. Not gonna lie, I wouldn't have minded if he was the new boss at Graham... Bigrhsfan, cityofRaven and BlueRazor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityofRaven 2,443 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Grew up with Thad, played baseball, basketball and football with the guy since we were about 10. He is a student of the game and I wouldn't be shocked if he has a long, successful coaching career. Bigrhsfan, Ryan4VT, BlueRazor and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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