FUMA Hires Brian Hurlocker as Prep Football Head Coach
Brian Hurlocker has some big shoes to fill. Last Thursday, Fork Union announced that he will replace long time Coach Micky Sullivan as the Head Coach of the Prep Football team next season. After 38 years of coaching, 26 as head coach, Coach Sullivan decided that it was time to step down. After a few months of searching Brian Hurlocker emerged as the best man for the job.
Brian, a Fork Union Alum Class of 1994, played offensive and defensive line for Coach Sullivan and helped lead them to back to back State Championship appearances, winning the state title in 1993. Upon graduation he accepted an athletic scholarship to play football at Austin Peay University where he was a two year starter and letter winner. After his sophomore season, Austin Peay dropped all their football scholarship funding forcing Brian to transfer for Winston-Salem State University. While at WSSU he was a two year starter and offensive captain.
His coaching career began in 2001 as offensive and defensive line coach for the Carolina Rhino’s from the Arena Football 2 League while also volunteering at Winston-Salem State with their defensive line. In 2002, he became a coach at West Forsythe High School where he spent two years working with their offensive and defensive line. Then in 2004, he accepted a position at Fork Union coaching offensive and defensive line while also trying his hand at other positions. “In my 9 years working for Coach [Sullivan] I’ve had the opportunity to coach every position with the exception of the secondary” said Coach Hurlocker. Then in 2008 Hurlocker was promoted to Defensive Coordinator. After only 2 seasons in that position he helped lead the Prep team to their first State Championship since 2002. Last season, he made the move to Offensive Coordinator and following a loss to Hermitage on ESPNU the team went on to their best record since 1999 losing in the State Championship to Liberty Christian Academy.
It’s hard to underestimate the importance of the experience he gained while working for Coach Sullivan. Coach Sullivan’s willingness to allow a young and untested coach to take the reins of a position that he never coached before allowed Brian to gain valuable experience which will come in handy as a head coach. Coach Hurlocker credits most of his growth in coaching to Coach Sullivan. “In my first few years as an intern I was in the Estes Center working on football all day every day and that’s what started me on the path that led to where I am now” said Coach Hurlocker.
Coach Hurlocker doesn’t plan on making many changes when it comes to the prep football team when he takes over as head coach next season. “There are going to be a few subtle changes to the program but if you’re not on the team you won’t notice anything different. We are going to continue on the track that we’ve been on. We want to win the [Prep] League, win our playoff game and most importantly win the last game in November and bring home another State Championship.”
Next season the Blue Devils will be stepping on to the field with a new head coach for the first time since 1986. It’s a very exciting time for the Prep Football program and expectations are always high but Coach Hurlocker is ready to meet the challenge and lead this team to victory.
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