GW football coach Dan Newell resigns, takes assistant coaching job at Averett

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Dan Newell has resigned as head football coach at George Washington High School to accept a job as the offensive line coach at Averett University.

Newell, a Danville native and 1984 GW graduate who played quarterback and tight end for the Eagles, compiled a 48-29 record in seven seasons as the head coach at his alma mater. He led the Eagles to three Western Valley District titles, four winning seasons and five playoff berths, including two appearances in the Northwest Region championship game.

“This is an opportunity to do something that I really wanted to do and at the same time step away from some of the responsibilities that the head coaching position demands time-wise,” Newell said. “It certainly has nothing to do with any situation at GW. It’s a chance to move on to the next level and see if I can make an impact there.”

Newell, 43, said the opportunity not only allows him to jump to the collegiate ranks without relocating, but will also afford him more time to spend with his family in the offseason. He has a wife and three young children, including a toddler.

The school district’s human resources department will advertise the vacant head coaching position and GW principal Chris Carter said he expects to have a hire made “as expeditiously as possible.”

“I can promise the people of Danville, this community, the school and all athletes, that we will put the best coach possible in position to lead the Eagles at this point,” Carter said. “Because of training and conditioning, I don’t see this being a long, drawn out process. This is so big. I know we’re going to get some really great candidates for the head job, because people have inquired before.”

He said the school has not approached any candidates and that he doesn’t have anybody in particular in mind.

Newell was first approached by Averett in the week leading up to Christmas. He has experience at the Division III level, having played tight end at Hampden-Sydney College.

“The opportunity to get Dan, with the knowledge and experience that he has, is invaluable. We’re excited as a football program and a university to have him part of our program…” Averett football coach Mike Dunlevy said. “I know he’s torn leaving GW and what he’s tried to build there … but I also know he’s excited about the new opportunity he has here.”

Newell will replace Phil Stanley as Averett’s offensive line coach. Stanley, who is moving home to Richmond to pursue other opportunities, coached for three years at Averett after playing on the Cougars’ offensive line for four seasons.

Just two years removed from a winless campaign, Averett went 7-3 last season, falling a victory short of claiming the USA South Conference championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

Newell served as the offensive line coach in addition to his responsibilities as head coach at GW, where he introduced the “Meat Chop,” a nickname for his offensive line and an attitude he instills in his blockers.

The Meat Chop led to a number of rushing records at GW. Haylen Murphy set the school’s single-game rushing record of 325 yards against Page in 2005 and Virginia Tech freshman running back David Wilson claimed the record with 331 yards against Matoaca in 2008. Wilson broke the record again later that season with 349 rushing yards against Franklin County, on the way to becoming the first GW player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

Relying once again on a run-heavy offense, GW dropped six of its final eight games to finish 5-6 last year, the team’s first losing record since Newell’s first season at the helm in 2003.

The Eagles last won the state championship in 1982, when Newell played for the team.

“There were some memorable moments in there on the field,” Newell said, “but there have been some tremendous people … the relationships that I’ve been able to build with those kids and faculty members and administrators … stepping away from that and knowing what you’re leaving behind, you just hope in your heart that you left it better than it was or at least as good as it was when you came in and that the program goes in the direction that the people of Danville would like to see it go.

“You never know what the future is going to hold when you get an opportunity like this,” Newell said. “But you don’t ever want to look back with regret and say I didn’t take that leap of faith to challenge yourself and reach your goals.”

GW football under Dan Newell
Year (Record)
2003 (4-6)
2004 (9-2)
2005 (5-5)
2006 (8-3)
2007 (10-2)
2008 (7-5)
2009 (5-6)
Overall (48-29)