New Pequea Valley head football coach Andy Tibbins did not have the upbringing of a typical high school football coach.

While always an avid fan of the sport, his parents forbid him from playing football in high school after taking a few too many hits to the head while growing up. Nonetheless, he watched the sport constantly.

His chance to get involved with the game would eventually come. Once his sons were old enough to get involved in youth football, he coached them in Garden Spot's youth system for seven years up until he got involved with Pequea Valley's junior high program.

"I've always had a passion for (football)," he said. "Coaches and youth leaders had a great impact on my life, so I wanted to be able to give it back."

Tibbins, a Garden Spot alum, also coached American Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. A connection made through that experience put him in contact with Mike Choi, who was then the top guy within Pequea Valley's football program.

Choi was looking for an extra assistant with a season on the horizon, and Tibbins fit the bill. He's been with the Braves ever since, working his way up through the ranks and holding titles such as middle linebackers coach, offensive line coach and special teams coordinator.

Choi resigned in March to take the top job at Upper Merion. Tibbins got the nod to replace him, becoming the ninth head football coach in Pequea Valley history. His sons attend Linville Hill Christian, which has a co-op agreement with Pequea Valley for football. Tibbins will have the opportunity to coach his younger son at the high school level.

He described the opportunity as his "dream job."

"There's not many people that go through my path," he explained. "I stopped playing football in seventh grade. ... Ever since I started coaching, I knew I could do it forever. To get a chance to be a head coach, I just never thought with my path (that) it would be possible."

The Braves went 3-7 overall last year and 1-6 in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 play. They are only two years removed from the program's first postseason trip, playing in the Class 3A Eastern Conference title game.

Pequea Valley has only been playing football since 1998. Tibbins hopes to establish a culture of hard work and community in his first year on the job.

"I just love the community, and I love a good challenge," he said. "Coach Choi came pretty close to sustaining (success). We've gotten close to being really good consistently, and it's had some ups and downs."

Tibbins already sees the culture changing. The program has added some extra voluntary practices this summer, and they have been well attended. The Braves are seeing more success with their weight-lifting program than ever before.

"I'm really trying to develop a culture with the kids that it's not just football," he said. "We have the huge fundraiser on Saturday, like building a culture and setting the expectations to be clearly understood. ... I've been very clear to the kids that I'd rather go to battle with 18 kids that have been at everything and wanted (to be there) more than 30 kids that are half in or half out."

On the field, Tibbins said that fans should expect the Braves to retain their base Wing-T offense and 4-4 defense that have been staples of the program since its inception. However, he made sure to say that there will be some new wrinkles in the game plan on Friday nights.

"Success is judged a little differently at Pequea," Tibbins said. "Having kids here this year is a success. Do I want to win games? Absolutely, but I want to compete, right? That's their goal."