MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s been five years since Trinity Christian was able to last field a high school football team, but this fall, the Warriors will head back to the gridiron, welcoming its second varsity program since the school opened its doors in 1997.
On Wednesday at Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Trinity administration announced the addition of football to its athletic programs and named Marcus Law as the new head coach.
As of now as a Class A representative in the WVSSAC, the Warriors have seven games on their schedule rather than the standard 10 since they’re off to a late start in the process, but athletic director Cary Woods said they are working diligently to try and get the schedule complete.
Trinity, which hosts elementary, middle and high school students, believes the success of its middle school football program that began last season piqued interest in fielding a varsity team.
“In the feeling out process with the kids, we felt there was interest between about 17-20 students, and with having middle school football, that was a driving force in a lot of interest,” Woods said. “We only had a few eighth-graders last year, but they really talked about wanting to play.”
Trinity began with a varsity program in 2009 and went 2-8 before dropping the program. In 2011, the school introduced a 7-on-7 team that lasted three years, and in 2014, then-coach Jeff Hostetler tried to resurrect 11-on-11 football at the JV level.
Limited numbers in the student body did not allow the program to continue. Now Woods believes there are enough now to reinstate the program.
“We’ve always wanted to have football,” Woods said. “When I was just a part of the school as a parent, that Friday night excitement and taking in games from the stands was really something no other sport can provide. The people within the school that make a lot of decisions said it just needs to be the right time to do this again, and right now, it feels like the right time.”
Law, an assistant football coach at Morgantown High under Matt Lacy and assistant basketball coach for John Fowkes at Trinity, will get his first opportunity to lead a program.
“I’m so excited to finally get a chance to be a head coach,” Law said. “It’s a dream for me and this is just the next step.”
Originally from Canal Fulton, Ohio, Law played at WVU as a cornerback from 2003-06 under Rich Rodriguez.
Even with a defensive mindset, Law is also a fan of offense. What he decides to do schematically on both sides will depend on who he brings on to his staff.
“For any coach, it’s great to have to mold a program into what I want — it is priceless,” he said. “Just like anything, its not trying to do too many things. Small big steps is what I like to say. I am a defensive guy, but crazy enough, I love offense, too. Trying to solve ways to score points is fun to me, but my experience on defense will help.
“I have to have the right coaches to support that vision.”
Football is an expensive sport, but Woods does not foresee finances being an issue. He announced that the school has a five-year year agreement with NIike to provide apparel, uniforms and equipment.
New lights will be added to the football facility before the season and planning for a facility to house home and visitor locker rooms is in the works.
“With the assets we have now, don’t think we’ll have issues with putting kids with good, quality equipment,” Woods said.
2019 schedule
- Aug. 30: vs. Mapletown (Pa.)
- Sept. 6: at Madonna
- Sept. 27: vs. Notre Dame
- Oct. 19: at Steubenville Central Catholic
- Oct. 25: vs. Tygarts Valley
- Nov. 1: at East Hardy
- Nov. 8: at Wirt County