Staff Say Good-bye to T.C. Williams High School

By Carla Branch and Rebecca Newsham
alexandrianews.org

This is the last week of classes for Alexandria City Public School students. The seniors are not the only ones who will not return to T.C. Williams next year. A number of staff members are saying good-bye as well.

In May, T.C. Principal Mel Riddile and Athletic Director Kerry Donley announced that they would leave on June 30. Riddile, who has been at the school for only two years, has accepted a position with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Donley, the former mayor of Alexandria, has been the school’s athletic director for three years. He is leaving to begin a campaign for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.Also in May, T.C.’s director of bands, Vaughn Ambrose, announced that he would return to Francis C. Hammond Middle School, where he began his ACPS teaching career. “I need to spend more time at home in the evenings with my kids and going back to middle school will allow me to do that. I will still be very involved in the program as a middle school band director and am leaving it in very good hands,” Ambrose said. Brian Thomas, the band director at Falls Church High School, will replace Ambrose at T.C. in the fall.

Coaches Depart
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach Ivan Thomas shocked Titan students and fans when he announced his resignation, also in May. Thomas has led the Titans to Patriot District championships for the past three years, his entire tenure at the school. This year, he brought home the first state AAA basketball championship in 30 years. Of equal importance, he has assisted all of his graduating athletes in obtaining college scholarships.

“Academics come first, and if you demand excellence off and on the court, your players will meet your expectations,” Thomas said. “You must provide them with the environment and tools to be successful.”

His advice for those who will be selecting T.C.’s next coach: “Choose someone who has the ability to relate to young people and someone who can teach them that there is more to life than just basketball.”

Thomas is relocating to Williamsburg with his wife and children. His wife is finishing her surgical residency at Johns Hopkins University and will join a urology practice in Williamsburg. Thomas plans to continue writing books, making motivational speeches and perhaps, one day, coach basketball. For now, he simply wants to spend more time with his children: Christopher, age ten; Taylor, age four and Jordan, age 19 months.

The girls’ crew program will lose a fixture. After 33 years at T.C., Steve Weir is retiring. His teams have won 12 Stotesbury Cup and SRAA Nationals and five Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Championships. The trophy for the Women’s Lightweight Eight at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta is named in his honor. This year, three of the girls’ boats won Virginia State Championships.

Baseball coach Scott Grossi is also leaving T.C. He is relocating to Arizona. Grossi led the Titans to their first regional appearance in 10 years and finished the season with an overall record of 12-11.