Billy Testerman has paid his dues and bided his time as an assistant coach and will now get to test his skills as the leader of a high school football program.
The energetic 37-year-old has been hired as the new head coach of the Marion Scarlet Hurricanes as he’ll be the fourth gridiron boss in the last eight seasons for a struggling program that enters the 2025 season on an 11-game losing streak.
Testerman previously served as the defensive coordinator at Chilhowie (2013-2018) and Patrick Henry (2019-2022) and was most recently on the coaching staff at Northwood.
A 2006 graduate of Chilhowie where he was a hard-hitting and tenacious linebacker, Testerman knows defense.
He will certainly be tackling a challenge at the Southwest District school.
“I felt like we always had some physical defenses and were very fundamentally sound on that side of the football [in previous stops],” Testerman said. “That’s something I will definitely carry over to Marion. I also want us to be a weightroom football team, which I’ve been accustomed to.”
Testerman takes over for Jack Ginn, who departed after going 6-25 in three seasons with one playoff berth.
The ‘Canes went 0-10 last season and according to Bluefield historian Rick Baker’s database at fourseasonsfootball.com, it was the first winless season for Marion since 1954.
The last winning season for Marion came in 2017 when current Lee High coach Joey Carroll was at the helm. This is certainly a rebuilding project.
“The first message I want them to know is we’re going to start with discipline. We’re going to be disciplined on the football field, in the classroom and in the community," Testerman said. "That’s the No. 1 goal. Like I said, we’re going to be a weightroom football team. … I want these young men to start building some trust. I want them to be able to trust me coming in as a head football coach and in return I’m going to trust them as well. … I really want to start building those relationships with those young men so they can trust me to put them in the best positions to be successful.”
Testerman was the DC at Chilhowie when the Warriors finished as VHSL Class 1 state runner-up to Riverheads in both 2017 and 2018. He was in the same position at Patrick Henry in 2019 when the Rebels won their first-ever regional football championship.
“In my coaching journey I’ve worked for five different head coaches who have been successful at some level of football,” Testerman said. “I took a lot of knowledge from those guys and picked up stuff from all those guys to mold my coaching philosophy and what my core values are.”
Former Patrick Henry coach Mark Palmer worked with Testerman at PH and Northwood and also coached against his defensive units several times.
“Coach Testerman was very thorough and well-prepared with a great gameplan,” Palmer said. “He gets along great with the kids, and he has the ability to motivate them. Although a great coach, Coach Testerman is even a better man and will make a great impact on turning those players into young men of character. He is very prepared to take over the challenges to build a football program at Marion.”
Testerman’s official head-coaching debut will occur on Aug. 29.
At Chilhowie.
That promises to be quite an eventful night for the new leader of the 'Canes.
“I’m excited to get this thing rolling,” Testerman said. “I’m more excited to get to know these kids first and foremost and build their trust and earn their respect and things of that nature. I want to hit the ground running.”