South Riding (June 27, 2007) - When Kevin Weeren learned Wednesday morning that he had officially been hired as Freedom High School's new boys basketball coach he hopped in the car and headed to South Riding. He couldn't wait to check out the school and in fact he hadn't even seen the Eagles gymnasium.

"What I know about Freedom is from what I have heard about them or from what I read. I understand that they were real athletic last year. I'm dying to see them play," said Weeren.

Weeren posted a 101-92 record at Marshall over the past eight years but he felt like it was a time for his family to move to a larger house and they are currently house-hunting in Loudoun.

"This move was not about basketball. This move was about my family," said Weeren. "It is very difficult to leave as Marshall is a very special place but this is good for my family. The time was right."

While Weeren leaves a 44-year-old program at Marshall, complete with gymnasium that brings back memories of crew cuts, knee-high socks and tight basketball shorts, he moves to a new school which opened in 2005.

"South Riding looks like a neat community because it is so young," said Weeren who as a youngster moved to Sterling Park in 1974 and then to the Forest Ridge subdivision in 1977. He played at and graduated from Broad Run in 1988 and later was an assistant coach at the Ashburn school.

Freedom can expect Weeren to dive in and start creating his own mark on the new basketball program. At Marshall he was known for all sorts of team-building exercises to help his undermanned team stay competitive in the tough AAA Liberty District. At less than 1,400 students, Marshall should be playing at the AA level but they petition the VHSL to play up into AAA to keep in the same region and district as their larger Fairfax County neighbors.

"At Marshall we had to find a niche. Our motto was "the best team, not the best talent"," said Weeren.

Weeren will be looking into "maximizing everyone's individual ability" and will strive to build team chemistry.

It will be more than about basketball as Weeren's teams have been involved in helping with Special Olympics and other events such as Coaches vs.. Cancer.

"I want to teach about life," said Weeren. "These kids needs to understand how luck they are."

Weeren got the impression in the interview process that Freedom Athletic Directory Rusty Lowery and the rest of the Eagle staff was somebody he can work with.

"They seem like nice people ... people who are supportive and do things the right way," said Weeren.

Kevin Weerin Resume

1990-91 - Broad Run assistant under Joe Cochran

1991-92 - Broad Run assistant under Joe Cochran

1992-93 - Paul VI assistant under Ed Grimm

1993-94 - Paul VI assistant under Ed Grimm

1994-95 - Marymount University assistant under Webb Hatch

1995-96 - Langley assistant under Brian Doyle

1996-97 - Langley assistant under Brian Doyle

1997-98 - Langley assistant under Brian Doyle

1998-99 - Langley assistant under Brian Doyle

1988-00 - Marshall head coach (12-12 record)

2000-01 - Marshall head coach (13-11 record)

2001-02 - Marshall head coach (20-5 record)

2002-03 - Marshall head coach (10-12 record)

2003-04 - Marshall head coach (7-14 record)

2004-05 - Marshall head coach (12-11 record)

2005-06 - Marshall head coach (20-10 record)

2006-07 - Marshall head coach (7-16 record)