MECHANICSBURG -- Assistant coach Mike Whitehead has been promoted to head football coach at Cumberland Valley High School, pending board approval, the school has announced.
Whitehead, a 1988 graduate of Cumberland Valley, has been the Eagles' defensive coordinator and has 20 years of coaching experience; including 16 within CV’s program.
He will replace longtime coach Tim Rimpfel, who announced his retirement late last year.
As defensive coordinator, Whitehead has helped the Eagles earn District III AAAA championships in 2009 and 2010, respectively. He also played for the late Harry Chapman and was a member of the 1985 and 1987 District III AAAA runners-up teams.
“Having played under Coach Chapman and having worked the sidelines under Coach Rimpfel, it is truly an honor for me to be able to hold this position,” said Whitehead in a statement. “I will do my best to uphold the traditions set forth by both of my mentors."
The district's top choice, Ron Miller from West York, reportedly turned down the position before it was offered to Whitehead.
Whitehead has also been the school's varsity baseball coach since 1998. He will continue in that role, according to Tracy Panzer, the school's spokesperson.
“Coach Whitehead understands what it takes to be a CV football player as well as a CV coach,” said Athletic Director Mike Craig in a statement. “We are confident that Coach Whitehead will, both on and off the field, run a successful and disciplined program, just as Coach Rimpfel did.”
“Mike has been an integral part of the program for the past 16 years, serving most recently as Tim Rimpfel’s first assistant," said Gary Quigley, director of secondary education and a former coach with CV’s football program ." He is a wealth of football knowledge and I am confident that the traditions and successes of the program will continue under his leadership."
Whitehead also worked as an assistant coach at Bishop McDevitt High School when the team earned the 1995 PIAA AA State Championship.
