WILLOW WOOD – Rusty Webb has been learning for the past 10 years.

Friday, February 16, 2001

WILLOW WOOD – Rusty Webb has been learning for the past 10 years. Now he’s ready to teach.

Having been an assistant under two successful head coach, Webb takes over as the new head football coach of the Symmes Valley Vikings as the board of education voted 4-0 Monday night to hire Webb.

Webb spent five seasons as an assistant at Portsmouth East under Darryl Davis and the team won two Southern Ohio Conference championships. His last five years have been as an assistant on the staff of Herb Conley who retired.

"I’m absolutely thrilled to death," Webb said. "Working under Darryl Davis for five years and Herb Conley five years has been a great learning experience. Darryl won two league titles and Conley won two state titles and went to three state finals (at Ashland, Ky., Paul Blazer).

"I feel fortunate to have coached under coach Conley. He taught me the ins and outs. Coach Conley is a great man and he will be missed."

Having been an assistant with the Vikings the past five years, Webb thinks it will be a smooth transition.

"There will be very few changes. We have nine starters back on offense and nine on defense, and my philosophy is pretty much the same as coach Conley’s," said Webb. "And we have a nice group of eighth graders who will be freshmen, so the future looks good."

The Vikings had seven road games last year, but they will have six home contests this season. Webb is very thankful for the schedule.

‘We have six home games, so being my first year that always helps," Webb said. "We have an outstanding group of young men to work with, and I’m really looking forward to this fall.

"The kids are familiar with my temperament and know what to expect. It also works in reverse because I know what to expect from them."

With Conley’s retirement and Webb’s promotion, the Vikings will be in need of an assistant coach. Webb doesn’t foresee a great problem.

"I still need to talk to the superintendent and principal about (hiring an assistant). We have a few different directions we can go," Webb said.

Webb graduated from Greenup County where he was an all-state center. He played at Union College for two years before transferring to Rio Grande where he graduated in 1996.

Webb has been the head baseball coach the past four years and has won the past two SOC titles. He doesn’t see any problems in continuing to coach baseball.

"There’s no problem coaching baseball in the spring because the assistant coaches run the weight room," Webb said.

Webb is married to the former Emily King of South Webster. The couple have a daughter, Taylor, 11 months.