Mathews embraces Wildcats hoops gig

By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- tkeeler@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- Vernon Mathews likes to stay busy.

Already this summer Mathews has coached a summer league baseball team and worked separate Warren County football and basketball camps. This week he is at JMU for a team football camp.

Mathews now has even more on his plate during the high school season after being named the new Warren County boys basketball coach. Mathews is already an assistant football coach and the head baseball coach at the school.

"Being around the kids in football and baseball -- they're great kids," Mathews said. "I love working with them. That was definitely a factor in my decision."

Mathews said he discussed the opening with his family, who had no issues with him taking on the duties associated with another coaching job, before applying for the position. His family was understanding that taking over the boys basketball program was a challenge he wanted to tackle.

Mathews' involvement with other programs at Warren County has made him familiar with his current crop of players, who he said gave him a warm reception when he was hired.

The vacancy was created when Dave Cramer stepped down at the end of the season to spend more time with his family. The Wildcats went 4-19 in Cramer's second year at the helm, but did win two of their last three games.

Warren County athletic director Jim Grooms said the fact that Mathews coached two other sports made the hire an easy decision.

"Being the assistant football coach and the baseball coach, we know that he cares about the players," Grooms said. "Probably three-fourths of the basketball players play football and baseball. The kids know him already. He already has a connection with the kids."

Mathews said he is blessed to have Matt Hopple as an assistant coach. Hopple will take over much of the preseason basketball workouts while Mathews focuses on football.

Warren County should return five players from last year's varsity squad, led by Damien Caison, Logan Hibbs and Jon Roof. The Wildcats will no longer be in the Northwestern District. They will be in the newly formed Evergreen District this year, which will also feature Fauquier, Liberty, Kettle Run and Brentsville.

"I don't really know what to expect," Mathews said. "I think in some sports it will be tougher and in some sports it will be better."

Mathews said he watched the Wildcats play last year and will make adjustments, but nothing drastic. He mostly wants to run a system that works to the players' strengths.

"I think Dave Cramer has done a great job and I'm hoping to pick up where he left off," Mathews said.