Greenbrier coach makes himself at home

With less than six months to go before football season returns to Columbia County, the Greenbrier Wolfpack is now under new leadership.

Scott Chadwick, an eight-year football coaching veteran from the Washington, D.C., area, was approved last week as Greenbrier's athletic director and head football coach for the 2006-07 school year.

Chadwick replaces Mickey Derrick, who is retiring and will go to Evans High next year as a part-time teacher and coach.

Chadwick was in town this past week when the announcement was made. A Monday night meet-and-greet gave the Greenbrier student-athletes a chance to get to know him.

Before then, not many people in Columbia County knew him at all.

Chadwick made a visit to the area two weeks ago to meet with Greenbrier Principal Marjorie Hamilton and the selection committee. The 36-year old coach said before then, he had no connections to the area.

"I don't. It's kind of a minor miracle that a Northern guy can infiltrate the Southern network here," Chadwick said. "I knew it was going to be difficult to get in down here without really having any connections. I'm very grateful to Dr. Hamilton and the school system for the opportunity."

Though Chadwick is a stranger to the deep South, he's no stranger to winning football programs. He coached Bowie High School in Bowie, Md., to a 2001 4A state championship, then tallied a 40-10 record over the next four years as coach at Lackey High School in Indian Head, Md.

Chadwick was named Southern Maryland Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004 after two consecutive state championship appearances. Chadwick said the winning came thanks to teams with traditionally high-powered offenses - a trait he hopes to bring to Greenbrier.

"Obviously, I want to see the program build and eventually have the same kind of success I've had at other places," he said. "We've been pretty successful offensively."

After eight years of success in the D.C. area, Chadwick said a move to another school was inevitable. He also said the main draw to Greenbrier came in finding a positive environment for his three children - all under the age of 12.

"The main thing that drew me here was an opportunity to put my family in a better situation," he said. " I knew the next job I took was going to be at the school that my children would end up coming to. That was the most important to me - to put my kids in a good environment."

Chadwick's role as athletic director and football coach officially begins in the summer with the start of the 2006-07 school year.