There is no question that Mike Skinner has led Wildcat Football to some great wins over the years, including the 2000 State and Regional Championships that gave CVHS the title of first Northern Virginia team to win three consecutive regional titles. But all 13 seasons Skinner has coached at Centreville, win or lose, he has motivated and supported his players on and off of the field.

“The wins and losses, that takes care of itself,” Skinner said. “The kids that I have met and helped and hopefully had an impact on, that is why I got into coaching to begin with.”

Coach Skinner joined the Centreville coaching staff in 1994 as Defensive Coordinator for the Wildcats. In 1998 he took the head coaching position and expanded the school’s excellent football reputation, helping to create the Wildcat Media Guide and WildcatNation.org. When he retired from a 28 year head coaching career in 2006, he held the second best winning percentage among the Northern Region head coaches and left Centreville with an astounding record of 87-26. Skinner continued to work on the staff as Defense Coach in 2007 and promises that even though he will now officially leave the program, he will have a continued presence here at CVHS.

“I really enjoyed my time at Centreville,” Skinner recalled. “Over the years I was very fortunate to work with a great staff as well as hard working dedicated kids. My biggest enjoyment has always and still will be watching former students/players go through life and become successful good people. The community was always very supportive and I look forward to rooting for Centreville with them in the future– see everyone at the field.”

Coach Skinner’s commitment to Wildcat Football and its players extends past the doors of CVHS. He has helped several of his standout players achieve success in college football and even the NFL, including Will Mongtomery (New York Jets), Marcus Hamilton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Pat Shiel (Boston College), Collin Miller (Central Michigan), Drew Dudzik (James Madison University) and Cam Dohse (William and Mary).

Brett and Beau Warren of Virginia Tech and their brother, Blake, all played Wildcat Football under Coach Skinner’s guidance. Their mother Irene shares the impact that Skinner has had on each of her boys:

“Coach Skinner did a wonderful job of creating traditions and pride and teaching his players to accept both the highest achievements as well as the most disappointing losses with graciousness and humility. He showed them what hard work and dedication and sacrifice can accomplish. He also made sure they understood that friendship, loyalty, respect and being a good person is what is important in life.”

Beau, Irene’s youngest son, graduated from CVHS in 2006 and reflects on what makes Coach Skinner a standout. “He believed in getting as many kids in college as he possibly could, to allow for kids to get a better chance at a good education as well as a better life… and he worked hard for it. He busted his butt for us when most coaches wouldn’t even think twice about giving any effort to get us into schools. Now that deserves respect.”

“Probably the biggest and most important thing coach Skinner did for us was teaching us how to be successful as well as respectable young men on and off the field. To never quit doing your best and to respect everyone (including your opponents).”

Sally and Jeff Dohse watched their son Cam become a stand out at CVHS and they recall, “We have been away from Centreville for 2 years but we look back fondly to those years under Coach Skinner’s leadership. We are proud to have been Wildcats. Any parent who has had a son in Skinner’s program knows the effect he’s had on these kids. It goes well beyond the football field. He instills many life lessons bigger than football that can last a lifetime. We are grateful for his dedication to quality - developing not only a quality football program, but quality individuals as well. He will be missed and we wish him the very best!”

Cam, who is playing for the William and Mary Tribe, continues “Coach Skinner was certainly the best high school coach I could have asked for. He was a perfect combination of competitive, strict, and demanding but all the while keeping the respect of his players by creating the type of environment that any young man would be lucky to play football in. His ability to rally his team and motivate a wide assortment of players/talent levels is something I greatly admire. The bond he’s made with his players over the years is visible by all the former players that stop in to say hi on a regular basis. I’m proud to have played under Coach Skinner, and I wish him nothing but the best.”

Betsey Miller, veteran football mom of graduates Brett and Collin, is a huge fan of Coach Skinner.  Betsey has dedicated many hours and unbelieveable energy to CVHS Football and Wrestling.  “Coach Skinner had a direct and profound effect on both my boys.  He gave them the tools to accomplish their goals and instilled in them the confidence to be successful.  His impact will be long lasting and his shoes hard to fill.  I will always be grateful to Mike for his dedication to Wildcat Football and Centrecille High School.”

Rising senior Luke Bowanko, who has committed to play for University of Virginia in 2009, also credits Coach Skinner for developing his passion for football. Prior to attending CVHS, Bowanko was involved in several sports and had no particular affinity to football. But after playing for Coach Skinner’s program his freshman year, Bowanko acquired a genuine love of the game. He is excited to be playing football at the college level and attributes “his work hard, give it your all attitude” to Skinner’s coaching.

Defensive lineman and rising senior, Mike Upham agrees that Coach Skinner has been a positive influence in his life, “Playing for Coach Skinner, you always knew that he was going to have your back, and you have his, on the football field. It’s like having another father figure looking out for you.”

Parents and students aren’t the only fans of Mike Skinner. He has current and former coaches who speak highly of him as well. One of those whom he mentored was Chantilly’s wrestling coach, Phil Cronin. Phil spoke about lessons learned from Skinner when the two worked together at Marshall High School: “From Mike I learned many things, from the importance of a well timed ‘blow out’ to shake up the kids to the importance of integrity in all you do. He taught me that each athlete is an individual that can be inspired to achieve well beyond their supposed physical capabilities and there is no such thing as a good quitter. I have had some coaching success in football and wrestling, and I owe my start to Mike Skinner.”

Centreville’s Athletic Director, Jimmy Sanabria confirms that, “Coaching alongside him (Skinner) was easily one of the best times I have ever had.”

Centreville’s JV Football and Basketball Coach, Patrick Neuman recalls “Coach Skinner is someone I knew of and respected as a player (his 2000 state championship coincided with my senior year in high school), and to be able to learn from him as a young coach has been an unparalleled experience.”

CVHS Head Coach Gerry Pannoni has known Skinner longer than anyone else at CVHS; he was his roommate and teammate in college at Frostburg State University. Gerry shares Mike’s love of the game, desire to win and instills a work ethic and integrity in his players that is focused on hard work on-and-off the field, and willing to and to help his players succeed.

Although Pannoni and the rest of the coaching staff will remain in close contact with Skinner in the future, they will have to find someone else to show up in the football office every morning at 5 a.m. — Coach Skinner may be sleeping in next season…but then again, that’s doubtful.

More…

Click this to read the WildcatNation.org article documenting Skinner stepping down from the Head Coach position after the 2006 season.