Woodie feels tug to coach

By Dave Fawcett

Published: July 31, 2008

When Ken Woodie stepped down in 2005 as Quantico High School’s head football coach, he figured the move was permanent.
He’d served as an assistant for the Warriors last season and was more than happy to stay in that position. But then came coaching changes and Woodie felt a tug in his heart.
First John Bryant, who was Quantico’s defensive coordinator, got the head coaching job at King George last May. That was followed by then-Warrior head coach John Pierce’s decision to join Bryant at King George.
There wasn’t anyone else at Quantico better suited than Woodie to provide the special touch it takes to lead a team that’s always small in numbers and always at the whim of transfers moving in and out of the Marine Corps Base there.
Woodie understand the nuances of Quantico football, a team he coached for eight seasons and led to three playoff berths before deciding he wanted to spend more time watching his daughters play college field hockey.
So he proposed an idea to the Quantico administration. He’d take the job this season so that Quantico could have stability in the program and avoid the challenges of bringing in an unfamiliar face yet again.
Since Woodie left, the Warriors have been through two coaches in two years and have been winless both seasons.
“I’d like to consider it interim, but I will take it for a year and see what happens,” Woodie said.
When he took the job, Woodie’s first move was to bring back Mike Feldman, a former head football coach at Osbourn Park, who served as Quantico’s offensive coordinator for five seasons under Woodie.
Although the team has struggled the last two seasons since going 8-2 in 2005 and reaching the playoffs, Woodie cautions people from thinking he will be able to come in and quickly restore the program to its winning ways.
“I don’t want people to look at me to turn it around in a season,” said Woodie, who went 40-40 in his first stint with Quantico. “We’ve got at least four coming back and lots of transfers.”
The Warriors begin practice Monday.

ON TO CANTON
Any other time, Steve Schultze would have started football practice at Osbourn High School on Monday, Aug. 4th, but a scheduling conflict pushed the start date back to Tuesday.
That’s because Schultze’s father got tickets for Saturday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Canton, which will include former Redskins Art Monk and Darrell Green among the inductees.
Schultze also has tickets for the Redskins-Colts preseason game at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
With the game being played in Ohio, Schultze knew there was no way he’d be back in time to begin practice on Monday.
“This is the first time I’ve been to this and I’ve always wanted to go,” Schultze said. “It’s very exciting. I can’t wait.”
Schultze will attend the events with four other family members, including his son Tyler.

OUT OF THE GATE
While most area high schools won’t begin practice until next week, Potomac and Freedom open up today.
The Panthers begin in the morning at 7:30 and the Eagles start at 5 p.m.

BACK IN THE PROGRAM
Woodbridge’s football team received some good news with the recent return of junior quarterback Darius Smith.
Smith started on the Vikings’ undefeated freshman football team before transferring last season to Montrose Christian in Maryland. Smith was a member of the school’s nationally-known boys basketball team, where he played point guard.
The Vikings are looking to replace Jake Myer, who graduated. Myer was the starting quarterback for Woodbridge’s Group AAA Division 6 state runner-up team in 2007.
The Vikings also return Frank Buckley, who saw action in three games last season when Myer was hurt.
“[Darius] has a lot of athletic ability and gives us an added bonus at that position,” Woodbridge head coach Keith King said.