Fort Defiance finds new football coach

Fort Defiance’s search for a new football coach has ended.

Dan Rolfe confirmed Friday that he has accepted an offer from Fort Defiance to become its new head football coach.

Rolfe coached at Benedictine High School, a private Catholic military school in Richmond, for the last four seasons and compiled a 21-17 record. He finished 9-2 in 2008 and led the Cadets to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association semifinals.

Rolfe said he decided to move to Augusta County after several trips through the area.

“Truthfully, it was a hobby that brought me out here,” Rolfe said. “I race cars and I’d drive up to Winchester and go through the Valley. I just had a really good feeling about the area. I found out from friends that there was an opening at Fort Defiance and I didn’t think twice. I accepted the job [Thursday].”

Fort Defiance Athletic Director Jack Tucker said earlier Friday that he could not comment about the position until it was announced officially. At 9:59 p.m., he sent out a news release announcing Rolfe’s hiring.

The Indians have only won two games in the last two seasons; Rolfe said he does not expect an immediate turnaround.

“It’s not going to happen over night,” Rolfe said. “It’s going to take time. When I coached at Benedictine, we didn’t win right a way, maybe three or four games. I believe in building a program on enthusiasm and hard work.”

Rolfe said the team will be going at full speed from the first day of practice.

“We’re going to be going 100 mph or 200 mph for the next six or seven months. It will be a hard row to hoe,” Rolfe said. “I’m really looking forward to meeting the kids, working with the administration and living in the area.”

He said the hardest part of leaving Benedictine would be leaving his players.

“It’s all about the kids, and their accomplishments. I know this is the right thing,” he said.

Rolfe will take the helm at Fort after the firing of long-time head coach Dale Spitzer. The veteran coach was fired in November shortly after the football season ended. Spitzer coached the Indians for 25 years; Fort hasn’t had a winning season since 2003.

After his firing, Spitzer told The News Virginain that Principal Larry Landes told him that the school wanted to go in a “ ‘new direction,’ or something to that effect.”

In 2002, Spitzer led the Indians to the Group AA semifinals. Fort lost 28-20 to New Kent.

In 2003, his Indians beat 10-0 Western Albemarle 27-23 in the first round of the Region II playoffs. His “Vulture” defense held Bryan Lescanec, who ran roughshod over Group AA that year, to 52 yards on 17 carries and one score.