Vance County High School Athletic Director Philip Weil has been on the job for less than a year but he is working to change the culture at the high school. Weil and Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott were guests on Tuesday’s SportsTalk. Weil, who came from Las Vegas, Nevada, said he had goals for his first year. “I wanted to bring new ideas and new projects to the school. We still have more to accomplish,” Weil said. Part of what he is attempting to do is build a culture of winning. “It takes a commitment to excellence to build a winning program,” Weil said.
Where does that start? “It all starts with Coach Aaron Elliott,” Weil added. Coach Elliot’s Viper squad won the conference championship last season and has the program on solid footing. That winning culture has already filtered down form Elliott to the women’s basketball and softball teams as they have found success on the court and the field this season.
Weil also said that women’s flag football, coached by Elliott, will begin this May. “It’s probably going to be the next sanctioned sport,” Coach Elliott added. Sixty-five young women are ready to hit the field for tryouts with the first game scheduled for May 23rd against Southern Durham. The flag football program is a collaboration between Durham County Schools and the Carolina Panthers. Durham County reached out to Vance County to become involved in the league. The 7 on 7 league will likely play four to five games this year with a full season expected in January of 2025.
Elliott is also busy with his usual duties as he prepares the Vipers for the spring football game on Friday, May 3rd at 8pm at Viper Stadium.
When Weil was asked where he sees Vance County High School athletics in five years, he had two word answer: “State titles.”
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