After an extensive search, Director of Athletics at Hollins University Chris Kilcoyne is pleased to announce that Mark McPherson has been named head coach for the new Flag Football program. The addition of the emerging sport was announced in July and Kilcoyne has been conducting the search for the program's first head coach.

McPherson comes to Hollins to lead the program after most recently serving as the Athletics Director at Altavista High School. In addition to athletic administration, McPherson has been a teacher and coach in the education field. It was his passion and desire to mentor and mold young people that helped lead Kilcoyne to his decision to tab McPherson as the coach to navigate the process of starting the new program.

"Mark's enthusiasm, knowledge, and experience make him the ideal leader of our flag football program." Kilcoyne added, "he is exactly the authoritative and knowledgeable coach that our student-athletes need and his encouraging and patient demeanor make him a good fit at Hollins."

Coach McPherson began his coaching journey right up the road in Montgomery County as a Defensive Coordinator at, then Shawsville, Eastern Montgomery High School in 1997. McPherson then served as the Head Football coach at Craig County High School. During his 10-year stint, the Rockets would win more games with Mark at the helm than at any other time in the school's history. In addition to football, Coach McPherson would lead the girls' softball team to a pair of Pioneer District Championships. From 2004-2014, McPherson was named district coach of the year five times, led three different teams to district titles and earn the VHSL Region 1C Football Coach of the Year.

"I'm excited to be coaching again!" McPherson continues, "I feel especially fortunate to be a part of a new and exciting opportunity at Hollins University."

Coach McPherson left Craig to take the head job at Randolph-Henry High School prior to leaving coaching to get into athletic administration.

Mark received his bachelor's degree from Ashford University in Organizational Management in 2006. In 2012 he earned his master's degree in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University and seven years later, earned a second advanced degree in School Leadership (Administration and Supervision).