Published: Friday, Jun. 05, 2009

Updated: Friday, Jun. 05, 2009

Volz picked to lead Braden River football

Offensive coordinator to succeed Josh Hunter as football coach

Upon being named the interim head coach of Braden River’s football team in April, Ed Volz’s goal was to guide the Pirates through the spring.

His next goal is guiding the program through the next several falls. Athletic director Bob Bowling said Thursday that Volz had been named Braden River’s new head football coach. He replaces Josh Hunter, who served as the Pirates’ head coach since the team’s inaugural season in 2005.

“The ultimate goal was to find myself in a situation and at a place where I can be a head coach,” Volz said.

Volz served as the offensive coordinator last season, his first at Braden River, and helped the Pirates reach the second round of the Class 3A playoffs in their second varsity season. But the team’s world was rocked March 21, when Hunter crashed his SUV in Sarasota County. Doug Garrity, an assistant coach, was killed in the crash. Hunter stepped down one day before this year’s first spring practice.

With Volz at the helm, the Pirates were able to play through the distractions and capped their spring with an impressive 35-20 win over Riverview at the Ram Bowl.

“I was very pleased with how the kids responded,” Volz said.

Volz will continue to work as an intensive reading teacher at Sarasota High, where he was a varsity football assistant before coming to Braden River. Volz was a head coach at Hampton Bays High School on Long Island and also coached at Iona College and Stonybrook University, which are also located on Long Island.

Braden River’s coaching staff will stay intact, and Volz will continue to serve as offensive coordinator. Vacancies left by Hunter and Garrity will be filled as well.

“I think we have a very strong staff here, which is committed to the school’s vision as well as the football program,” Volz said. “And when you have a group of guys like that, it makes the transition easier.

“We are all on the exact same page on how we want the kids conduct themselves on the football field, in the community and in the classroom.”