Union Pines High School is still in process of accepting applications for their football program's head coaching position, which was left vacant with the recent resignation of Jason Furrie. Back in the last week of March Furrie officially confirmed his resignation, leaving the Vike football team without a coach for the upcoming 2009 season.

Jason Furrie was Union Pines' head coach for one year. With Furrie at the helm in 2008, the Vike varsity squad went 1-6 in Cape Fear Valley conference competition and 3-8 overall on the season. He served two years as Elwood Baker's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, before taking over the top spot. The pair joined forces to end a 30-game Viking football losing streak during a "watershed" season for the school's football program in 2006. Baker then retired in 2007, after guiding the Vikings to a 7-5 season and a berth into the 3A State Playoffs.

Athletic Director Steven Ross said that Friday, April 24, is the last day Union Pines will accept applications for the opening. Since he has only skimmed through the applications submitted thus far and because there is one week left for potential applicants to enter their names for consideration, Ross could not speak about specifics concerning his current list of candidates.

However, at this point in the process he did admit that he does have a reason to be encouraged.

"So far we have 24 or so applications filed for the position," Ross said, "and while I have only had time to skim through them, I can say that there are (close to) ten prospective coaches that I am really impressed with."

While most of those that have applied for the position are from within the state, Ross did say he has received "quite a few submissions from out-of-state applicants."

Once the deadline for applicants to apply passes, Ross will start the process of going through the entire pool of candidates and picking out all those with strong potential.

"Then I will call the people that we at Union Pines feel are most qualified," Ross said, "and make sure they are still seriously interested in the job."

At this point, Ross anticipates making phone telephone calls to those considered to be legitimate candidates, starting April 28.

"After that, the interviewing process will soon follow," said Ross.

As with the hiring of any new staff member, Ross believes the interview is one of the most vital courses of action in the selection process. So before any additional specific information will be made available, he first will sit down and have discussions with each of the applicants vying for the position as new head coach of the Viking football program.

Contact F.W. Manning II at 639-5481 or by email at fwm2@nc.rr.com.