DUBLIN — A new era officially began for West Bladen football recently when the Bladen County Board of Education approved Principal Wesley Floyd’s recommendation to name Todd Pait the new head coach of the Knights.
Pait is no stranger to Bladen County.
A 1999 graduate of the old Bladenboro High, where he also played football, Pait went on to play college football at Appalachian State University in Boone and majored in education. He came home to teach at West Bladen and served as jayvee football coach.
Pait is also a retired military officer, serving with the Army infantry before serving three tours in Iraq with the 101st Airborne.
Most recently, Pait has been an English teacher and defensive coordinator for Sycamore High in Pleasant View, Tenn., where the War Eagles finished 6-5 last season.
Pait takes over the helm of a varsity program that was led for the past three seasons by Russell Dove, who departed after the 2015 season to take the head coaching job at South Columbus. The Knights, who were 16-19 overall and 9-12 in Four County Conference action under Dove, have made the playoffs two of the past three years.
Pait, who is also the brother of West Bladen basketball coach Travis Pait, has said he plans to revamp the Knights offense — switching from the Wing-T to the Pistol. defensively, Pait expects to make no changes to the West Bladen 4-4 set.
Pait and his wife Brandy have three children: Summer, 8; Chase, 5; and Ryder, 9 months.
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.