Carroll County head football coach Eddie Sloss has stepped down after four seasons of leading the Cavaliers’ football program.
Sloss informed school administration of the decision Thursday and he told the team during a meeting Monday morning. Sloss, who has three daughters who all play volleyball in the fall, said spending more time with his family was a major reason for the decision.
“I just needed to work on restoring relationships with my family and just trying to lessen the demands and expectations on me so I can spend more time with my family because all three of my daughters play volleyball,” Sloss said. “You never get those years back so actually it was a pretty easy decision, just trying to evaluate where I am as a husband and as a father and as a coach. But at the end of the day what is most important? This is just a good time to scale back a little bit.”
The Cavaliers went 5-35 under Sloss during his four seasons, winning one game each of those first three years. Carroll improved on that mark in 2017, defeating Patrick County and James River in the regular season for a 2-8 mark in addition to a benefit scrimmage victory over Christiansburg. Sloss said he plans to continue teaching and coaching in some capacity at Carroll County, just not as head football coach.
“I can work on those other things I talked about and be able to see my daughters and be there for them and be a better husband and be a better father,” Sloss said. “It was really an easy decision. It wasn’t something I struggled with. At some point in the last season you just kind of get the feeling of wins and losses, those were becoming more important, and the time that it took away from relationships. Who is to say you can’t have an impact on a person’s life as an assistant coach? Not tooting my own horn, but I feel like that is where I did my best work anyway.”
Carroll County Athletic Director Darrin Matthews said he thinks Sloss will help coach the track and field team in the fall.
“He worked hard and he is a quality individual,” Matthews said. “Hopefully we have people who can keep him around. He told the kids this morning he would still be coaching in some capacity.”
Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on Twitter@AWorrellTCN
