Bristol Herald Courier | Allen Gregory | Photo Credit: Emily Ball
HONAKER, Va. – For Honaker football coach Todd Tiller, step one in crafting a successful program is establishing the fun factor.
“Football has always given me peace and joy, and I want my players to have the same experience,” Tiller said.
From his days as a player at now defunct Haysi High School to various coaching stops across
Virginia, Tiller has followed his basic approach.
“And it’s worked,” Tiller said.
Tiller and his Honaker Tigers had all sorts of fun last season. Behind a prolific offense, Honaker (13-1) advanced to the VHSL Class 1 state semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Galax.
Tiller earned Bristol Herald Courier Coach of the Year honors for his masterstroke, but this story traces back to his childhood in the unincorporated community of Bee in Dickenson County.
Meet James Colley, the longtime football coach of the Haysi Tigers. In terms of entertainment and creativity on a football field, Colley had few peers.
As a pupil under Colley, Tiller earned VHSL Class 1 all-state honors as an offensive lineman.
“I learned a lot of things from Coach Colley that I still use today,” Tiller said. “I also had fun.”