The 2014 season has not yet concluded
but changes are on the horizon for two teams...
In a bit of a surprise, the Meadowbrook Monarchs head coach Troy Taylor has resigned after six seasons on the job. Coach Taylor came to Meadowbrook from Amelia succeeding Coach Bill Bowles. In six seasons on the job, Coach Taylor had five winning seasons, his only losing season was this current season when the Monarchs finished 5-6. Keep in mind, four of those six losses came against teams that are currently undefeated. The Monarchs even appeared to be on track for their first playoff win under Coach Taylor this past Friday against Highland Springs but a big fourth quarter foiled that. The loss to Highland Springs highlights one of the few blemishes on Coach Taylor's resume at Meadowbrook, having gone 0-3 in each playoff the Monarchs made. Overall however, in six seasons, Coach Taylor was 44-19 with a 69% winning percentage. His 44 wins put him in fourth place among Meadowbrook coaches since 1970. The Monarchs in six seasons in district play under Coach Taylor went 41-35 and never finished any lower than third in the Central District. Ironically enough, Coach Taylor's last game was this past Friday against Highland Springs; his first game as head coach at Meadowbrook came against Highland Springs. Unlike his final game, his first was a success with a 36-32 win at Highland Springs. Six seasons, 44 wins and many memories later, Coach Taylor bids Meadowbrook farewell.
After twenty-one seasons at the helm of the Matoaca Warriors, Coach Pat Manuel has coached his last game. Forgotten is the fact that from 1987 to 1990, Coach Manuel coached the Midlothian Trojans. Forgotten possibly because in that four-year span he was 8-32 and for two seasons he did not coach but then in 1993, he took over at Matoaca. In twenty-one seasons, Coach Manuel had 13 winning seasons and just 5 losing seasons. He was 14-11 in the playoffs and won regional titles in Region I in 1993, 1995 and 1997 as well as a Central Region Title in 2005. In four state semifinals games, the Warriors were 1-3 under Coach Manuel with he and the Warriors reaching the Division 3 State Final in 1993 but they came up short. 158-86 in twenty-one seasons, Coach Manuel has the most wins of any coach at Matoaca. The Warriors last playoff under Coach Manuel was in 2006, that year they reached the region finals but lost to Deep Run. Between his stint at Midlothian and a long and successful tenure at Matoaca, Coach Manuel is 166-118. Until stepping down today, he was second only to Coach Bedwell of LC Bird among active coaches in the Richmond Region and since 1970, fourth overall of coaches here within the Richmond Region.
Having had the opportunity to speak with both of these in the past, they will truly be missed within the region but not forgotten. Their passion for the sport, for their schools and team loyalty bled through anytime you talked to them and that is all you can ever ask for in a coach.
In a bit of a surprise, the Meadowbrook Monarchs head coach Troy Taylor has resigned after six seasons on the job. Coach Taylor came to Meadowbrook from Amelia succeeding Coach Bill Bowles. In six seasons on the job, Coach Taylor had five winning seasons, his only losing season was this current season when the Monarchs finished 5-6. Keep in mind, four of those six losses came against teams that are currently undefeated. The Monarchs even appeared to be on track for their first playoff win under Coach Taylor this past Friday against Highland Springs but a big fourth quarter foiled that. The loss to Highland Springs highlights one of the few blemishes on Coach Taylor's resume at Meadowbrook, having gone 0-3 in each playoff the Monarchs made. Overall however, in six seasons, Coach Taylor was 44-19 with a 69% winning percentage. His 44 wins put him in fourth place among Meadowbrook coaches since 1970. The Monarchs in six seasons in district play under Coach Taylor went 41-35 and never finished any lower than third in the Central District. Ironically enough, Coach Taylor's last game was this past Friday against Highland Springs; his first game as head coach at Meadowbrook came against Highland Springs. Unlike his final game, his first was a success with a 36-32 win at Highland Springs. Six seasons, 44 wins and many memories later, Coach Taylor bids Meadowbrook farewell.
After twenty-one seasons at the helm of the Matoaca Warriors, Coach Pat Manuel has coached his last game. Forgotten is the fact that from 1987 to 1990, Coach Manuel coached the Midlothian Trojans. Forgotten possibly because in that four-year span he was 8-32 and for two seasons he did not coach but then in 1993, he took over at Matoaca. In twenty-one seasons, Coach Manuel had 13 winning seasons and just 5 losing seasons. He was 14-11 in the playoffs and won regional titles in Region I in 1993, 1995 and 1997 as well as a Central Region Title in 2005. In four state semifinals games, the Warriors were 1-3 under Coach Manuel with he and the Warriors reaching the Division 3 State Final in 1993 but they came up short. 158-86 in twenty-one seasons, Coach Manuel has the most wins of any coach at Matoaca. The Warriors last playoff under Coach Manuel was in 2006, that year they reached the region finals but lost to Deep Run. Between his stint at Midlothian and a long and successful tenure at Matoaca, Coach Manuel is 166-118. Until stepping down today, he was second only to Coach Bedwell of LC Bird among active coaches in the Richmond Region and since 1970, fourth overall of coaches here within the Richmond Region.
Having had the opportunity to speak with both of these in the past, they will truly be missed within the region but not forgotten. Their passion for the sport, for their schools and team loyalty bled through anytime you talked to them and that is all you can ever ask for in a coach.
