Both current and former Annandale Atoms joined together on May 15 to honor long time head football coach Richard Adams.  The night went successfully, shining light on Adams’s long 30 year career at AHS.

Beginning in 1990 Adams took on the highly coveted job of being the AHS head football coach after studying for seven years under Hall of Fame AHS coach Bob Hardage.  Under his tenure the Atoms won seven District Championships, three Regional Championships, and two State Championships.

Alumni player and now friend Maurice Daniels spoke to honor his coach.  He spoke of three attributes instilled in him by Adams: hardwork, never giving up, and being yourself.

“I use these things in my everyday life,” said Daniels.

Senior Jack Velazquez also spoke on behalf of this years senior class.  His inspiring speech told of the life lessons taught to him by Adams.  Like Daniels, hard work was an important thing to Velasquez.

Richard Adams will still remain in the building both as the Assistant Athletic Director and as a physical education teacher.

“What I’ll miss the most is the coaching the kids,  I loved getting down in the dirt and teaching the kids to play,” said Adams.