South Rowan football coach Rick Vanhoy has been keeping a secret for about a month.

Well, the secret's out.

The North Carolina Coaches Association announced Saturday that Vanhoy, starting his 10th season as head coach of the Raiders, has been named head coach for the West in the annual Oasis Shrine East-West All-Star Game, which will played July 19 at Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro.

Vanhoy said that Phil Weaver of the NCCA called around three weeks ago and asked if he'd be interested in the position. He kept it quiet until the official word was released to the media, not even telling his assistant Larry Deal, who has coached in the event.

But now, it's time to gush about the guys who have helped him make South one of the Central Piedmont Conference's top teams year in and year out.

"It's a great honor, and it's really a reflection of the staff here," Vanhoy said. "I wish I could take all of them with me."

Vanhoy's West assistant coaches include Michael Byus of Robbinsville, Joe Hutchens of Starmount, Patrick Moser of Graham and David Pressley of Pisgah.

The process of choosing his all-stars now begins. Vanhoy said he'll talk to his assistants.

"We'll divide the coaching duties and see who wants to take what positions," he said.

Coaches will nominate players, and Vanhoy will also look at the selections of the December Shrine Bowl.

Once in Greensboro, he'll have a week to practice once or twice a day, getting in 10 to 12 workouts.

The all-star games have been low-scoring affairs over the past few years.

"We'll try to change that," Vanhoy said.

The all-star running backs should love playing for Vanhoy. After years of coaches trying to put on an air show, he'll be teaching the triple option.

And speaking of running backs, Vanhoy was a West All-Star in 1976, representing East Rowan.

Times have changed, though.

Vanhoy said he would love to have the Shrine Bowl players, but many college coaches now tell their recruits they don't want them playing in the summer.

"Back then, colleges wanted you to be in," said Vanhoy, who went on to play at North Carolina.

What does Vanhoy remember about his first East-West experience?

"We got our tails kicked," he laughed.

Twenty-eight years later, he has a chance for revenge.

The head coach of the East is Wilson Fike's Richard Pridgen. His assistants are Scott Braswell (Wilmington Hoggard), Dewayne Kellum (Southside), Eric McDaniels (Elizabeth City Northeastern) and Gregory Watford (Hertford County).

The other East-West coaches:

Boys basketball

West: Frank Maennle (Swain County). His assistant is Tim Kelly of Trinity.

East: Bernie Poole (Fayetteville Seventy-First). His assistant is Ricky Edwards of North Duplin.

Girls basketball

West: Tim Raines (Swannanoa Owen). His assistant is Ernie Bridges of East Gaston.

East: Sherri Tynes (Wilmington Laney). Her assistant is Danny Graham of Lumberton.

Boy's soccer

West: Jim Lynch (South Mecklenburg).

East: Jonathan Hasbrouck (Southeast Raleigh).

Girls soccer

West: Scott Dalton (Ledford).

East: David Miller (Jacksonville).

Coaches for the North-South Carolinas Classic basketball game were also announced.

Coaching the North Carolina boys are head coach Ted Gaskins of Lumberton and assistant Kenneth Napier of Shelby.

Coaching the North Carolina girls are head coach Gil Bowman of Fayetteville Terry Sanford and assistant Marty Stanley of Glenn.

Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com.