Steve Canter to Lead the Eagles at Landstown
To the cheers of a dozen or so players assembled in a school auditorium Landstown assistant Steve Canter was picked as Head Football Coach at Landstown.
Canter’s hiring closes an up and down search to replace Chris Beatty, who guided the Eagles to a 40-2 record and three Group AAA Division 6 state championship games in his three-year reign. Granby coach Dave Hudak accepted the job in March, but changed his mind a month later and returned to the Comets to finish his career.
Several players we talked to said the off season training program had all but come to a stop after Hudak left, but that when word of Canter's hiring circulated, everyone started coming back and there was alot of energy in the weight room.
At 25, Canter is the youngest Group AAA football coach in South Hampton Roads. He played linebacker and fullback at Kempsville High before moving on to Division II Concord (W.Va.) College, then Virginia Tech. He was a graduate assistant with the Hokies in 2004 and joined Beatty’s staff as a linebackers coach last year.
According to Canter, most things will remain the same, however there will be one change, “We’ll run the Wing-T,” he said, referring to a run-oriented offense very different from that employed by Beatty who used a wide-open, passing offense that usually featured four or more wide receivers.
Players said Canter has the same energy level and passion as Beatty and they are looking forward to the season now.
