Marty Gordon
Tim Cromer has always loved to coach high school football.
In 2017, he stepped down after 15 years of coaching to become the athletic director at Christiansburg High School. Tuesday, he was named the head coach at Floyd County High School, replacing long-time legend coach Winfrey Beale. Cromer is only the second head coach at the school in the past 43 years.
Cromer, who is a native of Christiansburg and who graduated from CHS in 1987, started his teaching and coaching career in Citrus High School in Inverness, Fla. to be followed by stints at Radford and Christiansburg High School.
He has coaching experience in football, indoor and outdoor track, girls’ basketball, baseball, golf and weightlifting, which the latter he will carry into his other new task at Floyd as a physical education teacher.
Of course, his main focus in those 30 years of experience has been coaching football, with 20 as a head coach. During his coaching tenure, Cromer has garnered multiple honors including leading Christiansburg to the 2011 Double-A state championship.
He has served as Christiansburg’s current athletic director during a changing time at the school including the opening of a new turf field and track. In addition, the school has added a new softball complex and is undergoing the next phase of its athletic facilities that will include the addition of a new annex gymnasium.
Cromer led a multiple of Region Championships in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and also attained Region Runner-Up titles in 2004, 2006, and 2012. Christiansburg’s consistent presence in the VHSL Playoffs from 2003 to 2014, allowed him to finish with an overall record of 98-75 and a playoff record of 13-10.
Floyd officials said Cromer’s commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive team culture aligns seamlessly with the values of Floyd County.
“We are confident that under his leadership, the FCHS football program will continue to thrive and exemplify the excellence that our community has come to expect.”
“As we welcome Coach Cromer to our Floyd family, we are excited about the energy and expertise he brings to our football program,” said Barry Hollandsworth, Principal of Floyd County High School. “His dedication to developing both athletic skills and character aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing a well-rounded education for our student-athletes.”
Cromer expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Floyd community.
“While talking with the Floyd County administration, it became very apparent that this is a great fit,” he said. “We will continue the FCHS tradition of playing competitive football the right way, while building men of character. I am so thankful to God and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Floyd County community in this capacity. Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Cromer replaces a legend, so to speak, in Beale who stepped down following the conclusion of the 2023 season. He stepped down after 43 years as the head coach at Floyd. Beale was hired in 1981 and hung up his whistle with 245 wins, taking the Buffaloes to the state title game three times: 1999, 2001, and 2008.