The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) announced today that Head Varsity Football Coach Tim Thomas has been named Coach of the Year for VISAA Division II schools.

The BRS football team won the Div. II State Championship on November 19, 2016 beating North Cross 41-14 on their home turf. (Click here to read more about the game.)

“I feel this great honor is in large part due to the hard work of the players and coaching staff,” said Coach Thomas who adds: “We are trying to build a program and establish a culture of success that the faculty, staff and students at Blue Ridge can all be proud of.”

He said that he often reflects on the words of the late Bear Bryant who said that to be successful in football you have to do three simple things: surround yourself with people who love the game; recognize winners; and have a plan for everything.

He added that Blue Ridge School is fortunate to be able to run its football program by those words.  “We have one of the best, most dedicated coaching staff in the state!” said Coach Thomas.  His plan this year was to take it one game at a time.  They knew at the start of the season that the potential for great success was there.  “We kept the goal of the state championship in the back of our minds, but in order to reach that goal, we approached each game as a learning process in which we had to get better and better,” said Tim who added that he is very proud of the way the players kept plugging away from a 1-2 start to an 8-game winning streak.  “We had some adversity and some rough spots along the way, but our guys handled it well and got better all the time.  We never gave up, and fought like champions each game,” concluded Coach Thomas.

Mr. Thomas was an assistant varsity football coach for the BRS football team that made it to the conference finals in 2011 as well as the team that won the 2012 State Championship.

In 2013, Thomas was the assistant coach for the Albemarle High School football team, which finished 6-4 that season and made it to the first round of the playoffs.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health as well as a Master of Science in Physical Education from Indiana State University. He was most recently a graduate assistant in the Adapted Physical Education Department while a doctoral candidate in the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education.

Below is a full listing of VISAA recognitions for this year’s football team.

OFFENSE

FIRST TEAM ALL STATE: RB Jamison Harrison, OL Jarad Chouai

SECOND TEAM ALL STATE:  QB Justin Armwood, OL James Forbes, WR Cameron Carr

DEFENSE

FIRST TEAM ALL STATE: DL Jahlil Puryear, LB Justin Armwood. DB Cameron Carr

SECOND TEAM ALL STATE: DL Tariq Gough, LB Jack McLiney, DB Josh Colon

VISAA Div. II Coach of the Year – Tim Thomas