Faith Christian to start football program, peg Weinstein as coach
By Ethan Joyce
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Friday, November 4, 2016
Russell Weinstein has been part of many rebuilds of high school football programs. But he’s never gotten to build one from scratch until now.
Weinstein was pegged as the first football coach at Faith Christian School on Thursday night, where he was introduced to athletics boosters, Patriots fans and perspective players. Weinstein, 59, retired from the state in 2012, working in South Carolina for three years after that. Back in the area, he missed coaching. He saw Faith Christian as an opportunity to grow something.
“Right now, we don’t even have a football, a football uniform, a football field — we don’t have any of that,” Weinstein said. “Right now, we are literally starting from Ground Zero, but I have been involved in several coaching situations, both as an assistant and head coach, that needed to be rebuilt.
“And we have been able to have pretty good success.”
The school plans to field an 8-man varsity football squad next season and is currently working through the application process to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association, according to members of the athletics department. And Weinstein said from initial discussions, the school plans to play football games on campus. Weinstein said the school is also determining where the team will practice and the best way to find multiple uses out of playing fields.
“The first group of kids that play football here, I will be their first football coach,” Weinstein said, smiling. “I am not taking over a group who has played under a coaching staff.
“There is a little bit of differences, but the formula for success isn’t any different. You still have to work hard, coach them well and hope that you are lucky and some talented athletes come through during that time.”
In Weinstein, Faith Christian found a coach familiar with growing programs. He took his first position as defensive coordinator in 1980 at Wilson Fike. He moved to Salisbury High in 1985 as an assistant, then moved to his alma mater, Tarboro High, in 1988. After serving as defensive coordinator for four years, he took over as head coach. He went 22-5 during his two season leading the program.
He became the football coach and athletics director at Whiteville High School for three years. He took a two-year break from coaching while working as a health care representative, then he returned to the area as the offensive coordinator for Northern Nash. The Knights played for a state championship in 2000. He also served as the track & field coach at the school, winning the 3-A state title in 2006.
He served as the head coach at Roanoke Rapids starting in 2007, staying there until 2013. He turned a lowly program into a three-time conference winner. During his career as a head coach, he compiled a 79-48 record.
There is so much ahead and much left to do for Faith Christian, but Weinstein said he’s ready to get started.
“We are in a situation here where we just have to get some kids out for football first,” Weinstein said. “I am pretty certain there is not anyone attending school here that has played a game of high school football. They probably don’t even know how to completely put the uniform on.
“We are going to have to start with baby steps. I will have to teach them the terminology to them . . . We have got to get them physically strong enough as well so them can protect themselves on the football field. There is a lot to be done.”
By Ethan Joyce
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Friday, November 4, 2016
Russell Weinstein has been part of many rebuilds of high school football programs. But he’s never gotten to build one from scratch until now.
Weinstein was pegged as the first football coach at Faith Christian School on Thursday night, where he was introduced to athletics boosters, Patriots fans and perspective players. Weinstein, 59, retired from the state in 2012, working in South Carolina for three years after that. Back in the area, he missed coaching. He saw Faith Christian as an opportunity to grow something.
“Right now, we don’t even have a football, a football uniform, a football field — we don’t have any of that,” Weinstein said. “Right now, we are literally starting from Ground Zero, but I have been involved in several coaching situations, both as an assistant and head coach, that needed to be rebuilt.
“And we have been able to have pretty good success.”
The school plans to field an 8-man varsity football squad next season and is currently working through the application process to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association, according to members of the athletics department. And Weinstein said from initial discussions, the school plans to play football games on campus. Weinstein said the school is also determining where the team will practice and the best way to find multiple uses out of playing fields.
“The first group of kids that play football here, I will be their first football coach,” Weinstein said, smiling. “I am not taking over a group who has played under a coaching staff.
“There is a little bit of differences, but the formula for success isn’t any different. You still have to work hard, coach them well and hope that you are lucky and some talented athletes come through during that time.”
In Weinstein, Faith Christian found a coach familiar with growing programs. He took his first position as defensive coordinator in 1980 at Wilson Fike. He moved to Salisbury High in 1985 as an assistant, then moved to his alma mater, Tarboro High, in 1988. After serving as defensive coordinator for four years, he took over as head coach. He went 22-5 during his two season leading the program.
He became the football coach and athletics director at Whiteville High School for three years. He took a two-year break from coaching while working as a health care representative, then he returned to the area as the offensive coordinator for Northern Nash. The Knights played for a state championship in 2000. He also served as the track & field coach at the school, winning the 3-A state title in 2006.
He served as the head coach at Roanoke Rapids starting in 2007, staying there until 2013. He turned a lowly program into a three-time conference winner. During his career as a head coach, he compiled a 79-48 record.
There is so much ahead and much left to do for Faith Christian, but Weinstein said he’s ready to get started.
“We are in a situation here where we just have to get some kids out for football first,” Weinstein said. “I am pretty certain there is not anyone attending school here that has played a game of high school football. They probably don’t even know how to completely put the uniform on.
“We are going to have to start with baby steps. I will have to teach them the terminology to them . . . We have got to get them physically strong enough as well so them can protect themselves on the football field. There is a lot to be done.”
