White steps down as Eagles' coach

The state quarterfinal loss turned out to be the last game for Mills Godwin girls soccer coach Rob White.

White, the Eagles' coach for 18 years, said he made the decision at spring break and let Mills Godwin Activities Director Bill Browning and Principal Dr. David Myers know then. White didn't tell the team until after the playoff loss.

"I wanted the season to be about our fabulous senior class," White said in an e-mail.

White gave up coaching the girls basketball team five seasons ago to spend time with his young family, and more family time beckons now.

"I'm very much at peace with [the decision], but I will miss the heck out of stepping onto the field to coach girls who consistently fight so hard for each other and support one another," he said.

The Eagles won four Central Region titles and reached the state tournament semifinals three times during White's tenure. Mills Godwin has been to the state tourney six consecutive years.

Assistant coach Ali Wolfe Toole will move into the head coaching position next year. Toole was a standout goal keeper at Mills Godwin and the University of Maryland. She also coached at Maryland and Loyola. Toole will be teaching physical education at Godwin this fall. White will continue as a math teacher. Another former Eagles standout, Stephanie Lehman, will join Toole's staff.

Montague replaces Moore at Freeman

Douglas Freeman has filled the vacancy left by longtime baseball coach Ken Moore's retirement.

Tag Montague, a teacher at John Rolfe Middle School and the baseball coach for American Legion Post 361, will assume the duties next spring. Montague is a graduate of J.R. Tucker (played on the Tigers' last state championship team) and Virginia Commonwealth University.

He began his coaching career as an assistant at Atlee in 1995. Among his college stops are the University of Richmond, Old Dominion and Randolph-Macon. He was an assistant at J.R. Tucker this past season.

Chargers' Chappell leaves winning legacy

Central-Lunenburg football coaching legend Chippie Chappell has retired. Chappell began coaching at Central in 1976 and guided the Chargers to 309 victories and four state titles. He ranks third behind Mike Smith of Hampton and Norm Lineburg on the VHSL career victory list.

Chappell's teams dominated Group A in the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The Chargers played in the Group A or Group A, Division 2 championship game seven consecutive years (1984 to 1990). They won in 1986 and 1987. Chappell's first title came in 1980; the last in 1992.

They didn't lose a regular-season game (one tie) from 1984 to 1991. Three of the runner-up finishes were to another perennial power, Powell Valley.

Short takes