Breaking News! South Lakes Hires Former Park View Football Coach Andy Hill

(Feb. 24, 2010) - South Lakes High School has reached across the border to hire Park View High School head football coach Andy Hill, who stepped down from the Patriot program last month to pursue other job opportunities.

The AAA Liberty District Seahawks were seeking a coach after John Ellenberger was let go after six seasons at South Lakes where his teams went 17-45, including a 5-6 and Division 5 playoff appearance last fall. Three of the six losses were by five points or fewer.

"I'm excited. It is the right mix at the right time," said Hill. "I think there is a lot of talent there and the community is ready for a next-level football program. I feel fortunate that they chose me."

Hill is scheduled to meet with the South Lakes players after school this coming Monday and then will hold a parents meeting later that week.

Linda Jones, Director of Student Activities, in announcing the hiring: "Coach Hill is a proven winner and will do an excellent job with our football program."

Hill took over at Park View five years ago when Briar Woods opened and Patriot coach Charlie Pierce left Park View for the new school. In those five seasons, Park View went 35-21 and made the playoffs four times. Twice Park View made it to the regional finals including this past season.

Perhaps the most memorable two-week period of Hill's tenure were back-to-back games at Broad Run in 2007 when the Spartans and Patriots met in the final week of the regular season with 9-0 records and then again the next week in the opening round of the Region II Division 4 playoffs. While Broad Run won to finish 10-0 in the first of the two meetings, Park View got its revenge the following week, winning the game late on a trick play. That loss is Broad Run only loss since the start of the 2007 season.

"Coach Hill brings a wealth of experience and excitement to the position. He is thorough and a detailed planner. He is a student of the game and has a positive impact on student-athletes," said South Lakes principal Bruce Butler in the Seahawks release on the hiring.

Hill said his decision to leave Park View wasn't easy, but it was one that was made after a lot of thought and consideration.

"I have had a great time here at Park View over the past five years, and while I have matured and grown professionally in this experience, the most difficult part of the decision was leaving the student-athletes that make up our program," said Hill.

Hill's decision came down to a personal desire to seek a new challenge and it appears he has found that in Reston where the Seahawks, thanks to recent boundary changes in Fairfax, are welcoming a new influx of talent.