Beloved New Kent High School wrestling coach Faus stepping down to focus on family

After 20 years at the helm and three state championships, New Kent High School wrestling coach Mike Faus is retiring to focus on family.

Family first.

Even as that saying has echoed in many lives, there are times in life where things can be simply explained. Such is the case in a decision made by New Kent High School Head Wrestling Coach Mike Faus.

Faus announced on social media that he will be stepping down as head coach of the Trojans’ wrestling team after 20 years at the helm. Faus decision was made as he will focus on taking care of his father, who recently had bypass surgery.

Faus’ decision just echoed what many knew about the young man from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; it’s not about himself and always about others.

Faus came to New Kent during the 2001-02 season, inheriting a program that didn’t have much direction after being established in 1993. The beloved head coach spoke about the early days stepping into what is the former New Kent High School, now known as New Kent Middle School.

“At the time, we were not very developed,” he said in a phone interview. “But one thing that we did have was a very good youth league. They had some young kids and once they started to grow is when we saw success.”

Faus’ patience was a factor into turning around a relatively unknown program. But his first breakthrough moment arrived in 2003-04, when New Kent finished as co-district champions of the Bay Rivers District. The following year, the Trojans claimed the district outright, what would soon be the first of many more to come.

As always, Faus said his success came from a strong supporting staff, giving credit to those who have stood by his side over his 20-year span. Faus first spoke about Coach Andy Hintz, who joined Faus on his initial run.

“Coach Hintz and I were together for about 10 to 11 years, and we made a very good team,” Faus said. “New Kent Wrestling is not New Kent Wrestling without Coach Hintz.

“When Coach Hintz couldn’t coach anymore, Coach John Goodbody stepped in and took us to an entirely new level,” he continued. “The training year-round and development that he brought with him going on for eleven years has brought us up to this point.

“Those two gentlemen have been instrumental, and I know they are in good hands with Coach Goodbody,” Faus added. “I would not have been able to do it along with the other amazing coaches we have on our staff.”

The outgoing coach spoke highly of the support he received from former athletic directors Ed Allen Jr., Julie Ellis, and current athletic director John Spiak. Spiak’s time with Faus goes back as opposing coaches, but the current athletic director knows the impact that Faus has made.

“I would have to say he is kind of the founding father of this entire program,” Spiak commented. “I have known him for years, I have coached against him as a wrestling coach, and in my first year here I was part of his staff.

“When you think of New Kent Wrestling, you think about Coach Faus along with the great assistant coaches that come along with him,” the athletic director continued. “It has been a pleasure all of these years to work with him and I am glad he is not totally retiring, and I will see him in the building. But we all know that family comes first, and we will continue to help each other out.”

Many coaches would gloat about three Group 3A state titles, eight 3A regional championships, and 14 Bay Rivers District championships, but Faus’ ideal focus was providing a program to young people to allow them to grow into disciplined adults. Several of his success stories are students who continued their careers in college and those who enlisted into the United States Military Academy.

“The thing I love about the sport the most is that I believe wrestling teaches tangible lessons out of any sport,” he commented. “Discipline is being coached, but also diet and techniques. All of those things are implemented into one sport.

“The individualism in this sport means you have to have mental toughness to face someone one-to-one and there is no finger-pointing,” Faus continued. “You either beat the person in front of you or you don’t, and that is an extremely valuable lesson when it comes to accountability.

Faus hopes the lessons left in the program will inspire future wrestlers and help them decide to step on the mat for the Trojans. He also hopes that the commitment to excellence is a year-to-year reminder and motivator for all student-athletes.

“From past to present, I just want to thank everyone for enriching my life and being a part of it,” Faus said as he wrapped up the interview. “I hope they understand that I made this decision and I believe they do.”