The University of Virginia’s College at Wise announced Dane Damron as the school’s new head football coach Thursday. Damron coached the last seven seasons at Eastern Kentucky University, including the last five as the school’s offensive coordinator. He becomes the fourth head coach in the 25-year history of the Highland Cavalier football program.

“We are excited Dane Damron agreed to become our next head coach,” said Director of Athletics Danny Sterling. “Coach Damron brings a proven, successful, high-powered offense to UVa-Wise. We are going to be an exciting and entertaining football team.”

Damron, a 22-year coaching veteran has been known for his offensive prowess. A year ago, Damron’s offense set a NCAA FCS record for offensive snaps in a game with 123 against Murray State. In 2012, Eastern Kentucky averaged more than 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards per game. The Colonels rushed for at least 1,700 yards in each of Damron’s five years directing the offense.

During Damron’s tenure as offensive coordinator, Eastern Kentucky posted at least six wins in all five seasons he oversaw the offense. The Colonels tallied eight wins in 2012 before posting nine victories in 2014. Overall, Damron’s teams recorded 69-47 wins and losses during his collegiate coaching career.

“I am very excited to be named the head football coach at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise.  The professionalism and leadership that Chancellor Donna P. Henry, Director of Athletics Danny Sterling, and the entire UVa-Wise community have shown my wife and me has been outstanding,” stated Damron.  “I look forward to working with Chancellor Henry and Mr. Sterling as we build a football program that will represent not only our great College, but also the town of Wise and all of Southwest Virginia.”

A native of Grayson, Kentucky, Damron began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Eastern Kentucky. Following a stint at Morehead State, he became the offensive coordinator at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Florida. Later, he moved on to Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland where the school reached previously unchartered waters on the football field. The Braves won their first playoff game in school history and advanced to the regional finals in each of Damron’s last two seasons as head coach.

Following his time in Florida, the coach returned to his native state of Kentucky to become the head coach at Boyd County High School in Ashland, Kentucky. Damron’s track record of success continued with the Lions as they won a playoff game in three consecutive seasons. The coach returned to the collegiate ranks in 2007 when he accepted the head coaching position at Kentucky Christian University. The 2008 season marked the first-ever varsity football team in Kentucky Christian history.

Damron played collegiate football at Georgetown College (Ky.) where he aided the Tigers to the 1991 NAIA National Championship. A two-time All-American, the quarterback is enshrined in Georgetown’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

“Our football program will be built on hard work, every day will be about competition. Our young men and their coaches will embrace their roles as leaders on and off campus and they will understand the responsibility that comes with being a member of the UVa-Wise community,” remarked UVa-Wise’s new coach.