Coach Mance - Mr. Postseason

[tbgfan 856]

HISTORY WITH HAYES: Richlands’ Mance Is Mr. Postseason

 

Richlands head coach Greg Mance has won state titles as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

 

 

By Tim Hayes

Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier

Published: November 21, 2008

 

Richlands High School head football coach Greg Mance continues to be the master architect behind one of Southwest Virginia’s longest-running success stories.

 

Richlands will play for its fifth straight regional title on Saturday at Tazewell.

 

After playing in the state championship game the past three seasons, Richlands opened the 2008 season by losing two of its first three games. However, Mance and his coaching staff made the proper adjustments and are now 8-3 and in a familiar spot.

 

It would be hard to imagine a postseason without Mance. He holds the rare distinction of winning a state title as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach.

 

In fact, 28 years ago he played a starring role as Giles claimed the VHSL Group AA state championship.

 

Giles’ postseason run that season began with a 31-0 victory over Grundy on Nov. 14, 1980 as Mance threw for a pair of 2-point conversions.

 

The following week, he caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Leon King in Giles’ 21-14 win at Abingdon in the Region IV title game.

 

Two weeks later in Pearisburg, Giles won the title with a wild 33-32 win over Park View-Sterling. Mance again stood out during the victory, hauling in a 5-yard touchdown pass from King.

 

Twelve years later as an assistant at Richlands, he helped guide the Blues to a state crown. He completed the trifecta in 2006, when Richlands captured the Group AA, Division 3 championship trophy.

 

Life has many choices---eternity has two

[wildcats55 10]

WOW!!!! THE legend grows. He is a great coach and person all the accolades and respect to him , his assistants and to the Richlands program.