Valley Christian hires Jennings as football coach

March 19, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

Jennings takes charge at VC

By BRIAN DZENIS

A Virginia success story is bringing his act to Ohio.

Ex-NFL player Albert “Butch” Jennings is the new football coach at Valley Christian. He takes over for Brian Marrow, who went 34-46 in nine seasons. Marrow went a combined 4-25 in his last three seasons with the Eagles.

Jennings has spent three seasons at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, where he went 22-11 and won back-to-back Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division III state titles. He’s been a VISAA State Coach of the Year twice.

“Coach Jennings is a winner and his teams have consistently won at a high level. He is a strategic visionary that compels and motivates coaches and players to be the very best they can be on and off the field,” Valley Christian athletic director Dolph Carroll said in a statement. “His high standards, emphasis on overall development of student-athletes and his tremendous faith are truly in alignment with our core values, which made him the best candidate. We’re excited to start a new era of football tradition under coach Jennings’ guidance.”

Jennings played under former Cleveland Browns coach Sam Rutigliano at Liberty University in the early 1990s. He signed with the New York Giants as a free agent and also played a season in the Arena Football League with the Milwaukee Mustangs.

He’s spent 11 years coach at the youth, middle and high school levels. The Chicago Bears’ Bobby Massie is one of Jennings’ former players. Jennings is the older brother of New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings.

“I wish to express my appreciation to [Valley Christian] president Mike Pecchia, director of athletics Dolph Carroll and the Executive Board of Directors for giving me their vote of confidence to lead and guide the Valley Christian Schools football program,” Jennings said in a statement.

“I am excited and up to the challenge to provide leadership and to help promote the continual growth and development of the student-athletes academically but also re-establish Valley Christian football program as competitive contender within the Ohio High School Athletic Associations and North Coast League.”