Greg Sherlock, right, hugs former Randolph football coach Pat Slater after the Cardinals’ state semifinal victory in November 2012. P-J file photo by Scott Kindberg

After various coaching positions since 1991, Greg Sherlock finally got the one he wanted.

Varsity football head coach.

Sherlock will be at the helm for the first time in his coaching career this fall for the Fredonia-Westfield-Brocton varsity program.

His coaching resume includes stops at Jefferson Middle School in Jamestown, along with gigs with the Randolph Cardinals varsity program and Jamestown Red Raiders varsity program.

He watched the Red Raiders advance to four state championships and the Cardinals claim another five state titles.

Sherlock has been part of successful programs since his high school football playing days at Randolph, when he played at then-Rich Stadium in 1979.

“I have always grown up on good teams,” he said. “I was with good coaches. Being a head coach is something I have had aspirations to try. I have been lucky to tag along at Jamestown with Wally Huckno, and Pat Slater being my coach, he took me under his wing. I thought I would be in Randolph for the rest of my coaching career with Brent Brown, and I was happy with that. I loved coaching with Brent Brown. I have been blessed. But I am excited to get a chance to be a head coach.”

While Sherlock studied under Huckno and Slater, he also called it a privilege to work alongside assistant coaches such as Joe DiMaio and Tom Phillips while in Jamestown.

The hiring process was extensive as Sherlock interviewed in front of all three athletic directors and superintendents from Fredonia, Brocton and Westfield.

“They had good questions,” Sherlock said. “It took a lot of thinking. Fredonia is my dream job. I felt comfortable in this interview, I think because of my background and the coaches I (studied) under. I felt comfortable, but I knew if it wasn’t for me, they would find the right person.”

As for the type of football Sherlock will bring to the program, he said it all depends on the athletes he has.

“I have a lot of different sets and formations,” he said. “That’s going to be dictated by the talent we have. I don’t know what kind of athletes I will have, but I am prepared. I can go from a power set to a spread offense to a pro set.”

Having just retired from the Jamestown Public Schools, Sherlock is 100 percent focused on his new team. And though he will not meet the players for a few more weeks, he is already putting together the playbook and preparing for the fall season.

“I appreciate the support I have been given,” Sherlock concluded. “Without the support, I wouldn’t have looked at coaching. I want to thank the superintendents and athletic directors for the opportunity to turn this program around. I have put in for many jobs and it never panned out. I am happy for the way it turned out. I have been dying to have a shot at this.”