Congrats to Coach Teague on a great career.
One would wonder though, why now? He has a loaded team returning (nothing new for Reidsville though I’m sure) and ended his career as a state runner up instead of going out on top. No shade towards him or the Reidsville program, I’m just curious.
Well, this kinda falls into the hard to believe category, also.
We have no idea if Coach Teague observed this during his coaching tenure. He probably decided on his own that handing over a very talented team worthy of a Title run was just the right thing to do for the next guy that takes the reins. He strikes us as that kind of man.
Here is what Shelby’s head coaches consider a succession plan.
Pearly Allen (5 Titles, 3 runner ups) wins back to back State Titles in 1975 and 1976. Then retires.
He hands over to Jim Taylor (3Titles, 3 runner ups) a 1977 team that goes 10-0, and wire-to-wire # 1 in the State 3A AP poll during the regular season. Unfortunately that squad loses in the playoff 1st round, 3-0, to a Newton-Conover team coached by Don Patrick, a Shelby alum who played for Coach Allen. The field house at N-C has his name on it.
Coach Taylor drops the Title game to Clinton in 1997. Then retires.
He hands over to Chris Norman (3 Titles, 2 runner ups) a 1998 team that wins the State Championship, in his first year as Head Coach.
In Coach Norman’s last season, 2010, he guides the Golden Lions back to the Western Final, only to lose in the final seconds a tight game to eventual champ Salisbury after a still controversial on sides kick. Then retires.
He hands over to Lance Ware (5 Titles) a 2011 squad with two 1000 yard rushers. Coach Ware, far ahead of most of us, chooses to immediately go to installing the air raid spread offense we are so familiar with today. After a difficult 6-5 regular season, the Golden Lions still managed to lead until the waning seconds the Western Final against eventual champ West Stokes.
Some of us felt we “passed” our way out of another Title that season, but it would set the stage for the incredible next run.
Coach Ware wins the Title 5 times in his last 6 years as Head Coach, including his final in 2018.
Then retires.
He hands over to Mike Wilbanks (2 Titles) a 2019 team that wins the State Championship, in his first year as head coach. See the pattern here?
Coach Wilbanks wins the Title again in 2021.
We honestly could not make this stuff up.
Each of the four Head Coaching transfers involved handing a Championship level squad over, after completing a Championship level season.
It sure helped the incoming new Head Coaches.
We feel Coach Teague has the same idea.