This season, 16 new head coaches will take over the leadership of fall high school sports teams in Washington County.
Six of them will start the first season of flag football for girls in Washington County public schools.
Here follows a brief introduction to most of the new people in charge.
Matt Bowman
Williamsport Boys Soccer
Previous coaching experience: Assistant Coach, Williamsport Boys Soccer (2019-23).
Previous gaming experience: Williamsport (1995-98); Salisbury University (1999-2002).
In his words: “It is always an honor to coach at your alma mater and follow in the footsteps of Coach (Stan) Stouffer and Coach (Chris) Downs,” Bowman said. “Taking over a successful program as a first-year coach is an exciting and challenging opportunity. My goal is to maintain the traditional high standards of our program while bringing new ideas to the team.”
Charles “Sleepy” Burnett
Smithsburg Flag Football
Previous coaching experience: Head Coach, Smithsburg Girls Basketball (2018-2020); Assistant Coach, Hagerstown Community College Women’s Basketball (2021-2022); Head Coach, St. Maria Goretti Girls Basketball (2022-24).
Previous gaming experience: US Army (“A long, long time ago!”)
In his words: “I am honored and fortunate to have the opportunity to coach the Lady Leopards’ first flag football team,” said Burnett. “Our goals for the season are to be competitive and have fun!”
Nathan Butts
Football in North Hagerstown
Previous coaching experience: Assistant, North Hagerstown football, Clear Spring football, Smithsburg football, Saint James football.
Previous gaming experience: Greencastle-Antrim (1996-99).
In his words: “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the program at North Hagerstown,” Butts said. “We have a great group of players that I know will be successful both on the field and in the classroom. I couldn’t ask for a better group of players to coach. We will work hard every day to build a program that our players, students and community are proud of.”
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Chad Carter
Flag football in North Hagerstown
Previous coaching experience: assistant, Cumberland Valley (Pa.) football (2000-04); assistant, North Hagerstown football (2017-22); Assistant, North Hagerstown Baseball (2021).
Previous gaming experience: Football at North Hagerstown (1992–1995); Baseball at North Hagerstown (1993–1996); Wrestling at North Hagerstown (1994–1996); Football at Juniata College (1996–1999); Wrestling at Juniata College (1996–1997).
In his words: “I’m excited to help these young ladies build something new and fall in love with soccer,” Carter said. “This new sport offers so many opportunities for these ladies in the years to come. We plan to put the Lady Hubs’ athleticism on full display this fall.”
Becky Conco
Williamsport Girls Soccer
Previous coaching experience: Assistant Coach, Williamsport Girls Soccer (2020, 2023).
Previous gaming experience: North Carroll (1996-99); St Andrews University.
In her words: “I look forward to watching the Williamsport soccer program continue to grow,” Conco said. “My goal is to share my love of the game and experience with a team of veteran players and newcomers. This season, our focus is to enjoy the game, play our best and always come out with a positive attitude. By the end of the season, I hope the players have learned new skills, created lasting memories, built strong bonds with their teammates and had an experience they will never forget.”
Wade Elwood
Clear Spring Boys Soccer
Previous coaching experience: Assistant/JV Coach, Clear Spring (2020-23); Coach and President, Clear Spring Soccer Club (1999-present).
Previous gaming experience: College of Medicine (1990-1993);
In his words: “Following in Lynn Mills’ footsteps as one of the best high school football coaches in this county is an honor,” said Elwood. “I love this school and the kids in this community. Our program goal is to continue Clear Spring’s tradition of success. We must enter the training season with a willingness to work hard and learn. We have a difficult schedule, but if we can grow as a team and play our best in the playoffs, then that will be a success.”
Allison Flanary
Saint James Girls Cross Country
Previous coaching experience: Assistant, Saint James (2023).
Previous gaming experience: Cross Country and Track and Field, David Crockett (Tenn.) High School.
In her words: “I’m excited to continue to develop our program this year and encourage our athletes to reach new heights,” Flanary said. “Cross country is a pretty self-contained sport that requires a lot of internal motivation, (which) is a key skill for academic success. My goal is for each athlete to exceed their expectations of themselves on and off the track.”
Chad Hartman
Boonsboro Flag Football
Previous coaching experience: Head Coach, Boonsboro JV Basketball (2023-present); BAAA Football, Mid-Maryland Girls Basketball, Boonsboro Lady Warriors Basketball.
Previous gaming experience: West Virginia State baseball (1996-98); Shepherd University baseball (1999–2000).
In his words: “I am honored to have been selected to lead the Boonsboro Flag Football team in this inaugural season,” said Hartman. “Our program goal is to be competitive, but not at the expense of these young ladies enjoying and learning the game of football. Our record this year will not be what I define as a successful season. A successful season for me and our staff means that every girl on our team will want to continue playing for years to come.”
Erin Helman
Volleyball at South Hagerstown
Previous coaching experience: Head Coach, Shenandoah Surge 16U West Virginia National Team.
Previous gaming experience: Williamsport (1995-98).
In her words: “My vision for the program is to build physically and mentally strong student-athletes. The athletes will learn to strive for excellence and success through academic and athletic achievement,” Helman said. “South High’s volleyball program provides players with the opportunity to develop competitively in the game. They will learn mental toughness and responsibility, accountability and sportsmanship.”
Andy Hoffman
Williamsport Flag Football
Previous coaching experience: Assistant, Williamsport basketball (2021-2022, 2023-present); Assistant, Broadfording basketball (2022-2023); Assistant, South Hagerstown basketball (2018-2022).
Previous gaming experience: Football, Williamsport (1989-1992); Red Knights flag football (2004-2019).
In his words: “We have athletes and competitors, and our girls love to be coached. We’re going to have a lot of fun,” Hoffman said. “Because there are so many different styles of flag football, we get to play in so many different ways. With over 30 years of experience in flag football and with coaches who have played on and led flag football teams, we are here to help our athletes learn and grow as flag football players and as good people. This is new in Washington County, and we are proud to be the first to represent Williamsport.”
Kelsi Palmer
Saint James Girls Soccer
Previous coaching experience: Assistant Coach, Saint James Softball (2019-2024); Assistant Coach, Saint James Girls Soccer (2023).
Previous gaming experience: Soccer and softball at South Hagerstown (1996–2000); softball at Shepherd University (2000–2002).
In her words: “After helping many talented and promising players last season, I jumped at the chance to take over the team. Our goal is to establish a culture of hard work and dedication to teamwork to build the future success of this program. I am the product of strong, passionate female coaches in my life. Seeing the fire in their hearts for the sports they love and what they taught me about work ethic and responsibility has made me who I am today. I am forever grateful and we strive to pay that forward this season (along with my two assistants, Keely Knotts and Delanie Dudley) to not only be better athletes, but better people overall.”
Matthew Reisberg
Heritage Academy Boys Soccer
Previous coaching experience: Head coach, Carroll Christian football, basketball and baseball (1996-2008, 2013-2020); head coach, Mount Airy Christian football, basketball and baseball (2008-13).
Previous gaming experience: Heritage Academy, football (1988–91).
In his words: “We want to improve every day and be better today than we were yesterday,” Reisberg said. “We are young. We have a few experienced players from the senior years, but if the team learns to play together, they have a solid future. We hope to do our best every day and be as good as we can.”
Madison Thompson
Saint James Field Hockey
Previous coaching experience: Assistant, Field Hockey, Saint James (2022-23); Head Coach, Saint James JV Girls Tennis (2023-24).
Previous gaming experience: Louisville Collegiate School (Ky.) field hockey; Kenyon College field hockey (2015–16).
In her words: “I want to help these girls grow as athletes and teammates,” Thompson said. “We work with girls with different experiences in the sport and my goal is for them to leave every practice or game feeling like they have brought something valuable to the team and improved in some way. I am very grateful to be able to lead this program and I want to continue to push our team to be the best they can be.”
Other new fall sports coaches
- Luke Benchoff, flag football at Clear Spring
- Nissa Freeman, South Hagerstown flag football team
- Erin Minnick, cross country from Williamsport
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