style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>isn't leaving Denbigh High

School in Newport News any time soon, but he is stepping away from

coaching.  On Wednesday, Weaver was

named the school's new Athletic Director.

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Weaver

went 78-69 in six seasons as Denbigh's Head Basketball Coach, guiding the

Patriots to five Eastern Region playoff appearances.

style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Along with Booker T. Washington and

class=SpellE>Tallwood, Denbigh was one of only three teams to make the

Eastern Region Tournament in each of the past five seasons.

"Over

the last six years, we've had arguably the toughest district in the

region and to be able to repeatedly put ourselves in a position to compete and

qualify for the region tournament – with our own kids I might add –

has been a great thing," Weaver told VirginiaPreps.com.

style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  "For me it was about coming in and

allowing the kids to have the ability to play.

style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  We put a lot of things in place, but we

were fortunate because we had a decent crop of kids come through, and they

bought in to what we were doing."

Weaver, 37,

was hired in 2003 as the program's sixth Head Basketball Coach in school

history.  Prior to his arrival, the

Patriots were 30-57 in their previous four seasons.

style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Weaver began his coaching career in the

Peninsula District at another school as he was the Head Girls Basketball Coach

at Bethel for four years.  He also

was a boys basketball varsity assistant coach for two

seasons at Bethel.

A 1989

Denbigh graduate, Weaver averaged 13.9 points per game as a senior before going

on to play College Basketball at Longwood. 

He played at Denbigh for Dennis

Koutoufas and his J.V. Coach was current Warwick Head Coach

style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Ben Moore.

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"When

you think about teaching and coaching when you decide that's what you

want to do with your life, then you get the opportunity to come back to your

alma mater, that's huge.  Then

the opportunity usually in education to be promoted or move up doesn't

always present itself where you are," Weaver explained.

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"To

have the opportunity to move up at Denbigh High School, it's an honor,

especially since I'm taking over for a dear friend in

style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Dale Roe, who suddenly passed away (in

February).  We're going to try

to keep his great legacy going because he was an unbelievable Athletic

Director.  I have huge shoes to

fill.  I don't know if

it's even possible to fill them, but we're going to try."

 

This

marks the third coaching change this off-season in the Peninsula District,

joining Heritage and Gloucester. 

Weaver will have a big say in who is selected as his successor.

 

"I

think the school is looking for a person who has a passion for the game and

passion for kids," said Weaver. 

"You can't come out here and pretend with young people

today.  I think they have to believe

that you're real and believe in the message that you're trying to

send.  You put those things in place

and promote the positive things in a student-athlete."

 

Denbigh finished

16-9 overall, 13-5 in the PD and was eliminated by Tallwood in the

opening round of the Eastern Region Tournament this past season.

style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Last year's team featured eight

seniors, including Saint Francis (Pa.) signee point guard Chris Johnson, as well

as five juniors and a sophomore on the varsity roster.

 

 

Matthew Hatfield has

covered Eastern Region Basketball & Football since 2004 for

VirginiaPreps.com – the #1 High School Sports Site on the Rivals

Network.  Check out Hatfield's

website – www.matthewhatfield.com

– for more on the pro and college sports scene.

style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  To contact Matthew, please e-mail

href="mailto:hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com">hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com.

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