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Ryan Habich Named Head Football Coach of Watauga High School at Special Called Meeting Thursday

Feb. 22, 2013. Ryan Habich, currently the highly successful head football coach for Fuquay-Varina High School in Fuquay-Varina, NC, has been named head football coach for Watauga High School effective April 8.  

Habich
Habich

The recommendation to hire Coach Habich was approved by the Board of Education at a special called meeting of the Watauga Board of Education Thursday evening.

Over the last five years, Habich’s teams at Fuquay-Varina have posted a record of 50 wins and 14 losses and won three 4A conference championships, including advancing to the final four in of the 4 AA East in 2009.  He was named the Tri 9 Conference Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2011.  Prior to becoming head coach, Habich had coaching experience in a wide variety of roles, including as a defensive coordinator, special teams coach, offensive coordinator, and as a position coach for linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, and quarterbacks.

Habich said he is excited about the opportunity to teach and coach at Watauga High School. “We will develop our student-athletes in the classroom, the weight room, and on the football field.  I believe we can build a successful football program at Watauga High Schooland create a program that the community will be proud of.”  Habich also noted that he and his family have long wanted to return to the NC mountains and that they look forward to being part of the community.  Habich and his wife Amanda Habich have three children ranging in age from one to six years old. 

Habich finished his bachelor’s degree in physical education at Mars Hill College, where he played quarterback and defensive back on the school’s football team.  He also has a master’s degree in exercise science from Campbell University.

Human Resources Director Dr. Stephen Martin said the coaching position “attracted a very large and very strong pool” of 89 applicants.  The applications came from 24 states and 46 of the 89 candidates were current or former head coaches.  The field of candidates was narrowed to seven applicants for interviews and Habich was selected as the top choice from that group.

Habich is succeeding Tom Wright as head football coach for the Pioneers.  Wright is also athletic director at the high school and will retain that role.

Watauga High School is a comprehensive high school with an enrollment of approximately 1,450 students.  It is rated a School of Distinction on the NC ABC’s accountability model based on the academic proficiency and growth of its students and other measures of student success. The high school has also been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at the silver level for energy efficiency and sustainability in its facilities and operations.