Metzger chosen as A.D. at Lely

Now he takes the reins of the entire athletic program.

Lely has picked Metzger as its new activities director. He will replace Mario Doria, who is moving to the new Palmetto Ridge High School as its activities director. Metzger will begin his new job in January.

Lely principal Jeremiah Primus said Metzger was one of two candidates who went through formal interviews in front of a 12-person committee. Metzger will take part in selecting a new football coach.

Even though the job title has changed, Primus said Metzger won't change his interaction with the athletes.

"He's going to be a hands-on person," Primus said. "The students won't not see him. He's going to be very visible."

Metzger, 33, said he thought about the school and his family when he accepted the job.

"I was surprised, excited and flattered to be one of the people looked at for this position," he said. "My wife has been extremely supportive of my career and when we made this last move we wanted it to be, God willing, for the long haul."

Metzger has a year of athletic director experience under his belt. He served in that capacity at Father Lopez High in Daytona Beach in the 2001-02 school year, working as head football and track coach at the same time.

He coached at Poolesville (Md.) High from 1995-2001 and was defensive coordinator at Southern High in Louisville, Ky., during the 2002-03 school year.

The Trojans had won a total of five games in the previous three seasons when Metzger took over this year. He led the team on a late-season three-game winning streak, including victories over Gulf Coast and Barron Collier, to finish runner-up in Class 5A District 12. The Trojans lost their regional quarterfinal game to Venice 48-20 and finished 5-6 on the season.

Metzger said he felt a great sense of school spirit at Lely this season and he doesn't want that spirit to fade.

"I hope we can continue to get school spirit to rise," he said. "And I hope the school will continue to grow as it has been."