USA Football has named Chris Metzger head coach of the 2013 U.S. Under-18 National Team.

The head coach at Pinecrest since 2007, Metzger has been involved with USA Football, the sport’s national governing body located in Indianapolis, for several years. The organization is the official youth development partner of the NFL.

A coaching staff that includes Pinecrest assistant coaches Jason Sparks and Antwan Murchison, and Richmond Senior head coach Paul Hoggard, will begin the player selection process after the current football season. The team will be made up of current juniors. It is scheduled to play the national team from Canada next February 6 on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.

“Obviously, wearing those three letters across your chest is a pretty big honor,” the coach said on Friday.

Metzger first become acquainted with USA Football through one of their youth camps held at Pinecrest about four years ago. He has worked with U-15 national team players and served as defensive coordinator of the U-19 team last summer.

“I think they appreciated our efforts and how we wanted to make it so much more than football – the way we try to encourage them to be better men,” he said.

Candidates for the squad will include the 250 or so juniors that have already committed to Bowl Championship Series colleges as well as others with potential.

“Chris has shown that he is a great football coach and a terrific example for young men,” USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said on usafootball.com. “We are proud to have him lead our inaugural Under – 18 team.”