First-year Potomac Falls head coach Scott Woodlief never imagined coaching in Loudoun County. The Hampton native was an offensive line coach at the Newport News Apprentice School, which plays Division III football at the college level, when he saw an online job posting for the Potomac Falls head football coach. Woodlief applied for the job and drove up to Loudoun County for an interview.
“I have never been in this area in my life,” said Woodlief.
The coach got to interact with some of the players and got a feel for the area.
“I really became attached to the group of kids here,” he said.
Woodlief got the job and moved his family from Hampton to Loudoun County. The move also meant that his son, Greg Woodlief, a three-sport athlete at Kecoughtan High School, would be moving up to join the Panther’s squad.
“I always wanted to be able to coach my son. That’s important to me,” said Woodlief.
Woodlief took over a Potomac Falls team that finished the season with a 5-5 record last year and was returning many starting seniors, a small group of impressive juniors, and a large amount of promising sophomores.
“We have a good mesh,” said Woodlief. “We’re looking pretty solid for this year and the next couple of years.”
Woodlief brought in a brand new coaching staff and has begun to implement his offensive and defensive schemes.
“I think that we have a handle on the team right now. The kids here are very coachable,” said Woodlief. “The kids want to win, want to be pushed, and they listen. When you put all those ingredients into one system, I think that it is a formula for a successful season.”
The team’s 14 senior leaders include two-way lineman Blaise Ruffing, wide receiver and linebacker Chris Frank, and tight end Steve Hancock. Taking the snaps will be Woodlief’s son, Greg.
“The kids are working hard. We have a brand new coaching staff. Everybody is trying to figure everybody else out. I think that everything is looking pretty good. These kids are hard workers, they listen and they want to win. That’s the reason why I took this job.”