CREEKSVILLE – Greg Watford has a history of honors.

The Northampton County High School n East Head Football Coach has played college football, been named State Coach of the Year, coached on the East-West All-Star staff and even returned home to coach and teach at his alma mater, Hertford County High School.

As proud as he is of those accomplishments, his latest honor stands above them all.

“I’ve been blessed with some great honors in my career, but this tops them all,” he said. “To be named to coach in the Shrine Bowl is an extreme pleasure, not just because of what the game means, but because of who it benefits.”

The Shrine Bowl is a football game played in December composed of teams from North and South Carolina’s best high school players. It benefits the Shriners Hospitals for Children, which is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs.

“Meeting the Shriners, they are such great people,” Watford said. “It’s an honor to be chosen to work with them.”

The coach said he was also honored because Sam Story of Walter Williams High School in Burlington helped nominate him for the honor.

“He has been a tremendous role model,” Watford said. “He has always been so supportive of me and that makes this honor even more special.”

Watford was chosen as one of seven coaches for the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team. He joins Head Coach Gary Fowler of Clayton High School and fellow assistants Bruce Ollis of Polk County High School, Steve Gardner of Hunter Huss High School, Bryan Lingerfelt of East Davidson High School, Bob Blick of White Oak High School and Steve Shaughnessy of Butler High School.

“Gary Fowler is a great guy to be around,” Watford said. “He loves kids and he is a consummate professional.

“The other coaches are terrific guys,” he continued. “I’m excited about getting to work with them.”

Watford said he was also excited about being able to work with Brian Overton, the former Hertford County High School assistant coach, who is helping coordinate Shrine Bowl combines.

“Brian was my former receivers coach and it has been exciting to have the chance to work with him again,” Watford said.

Watford was named Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Northampton County High School n East during the summer of 2007. Before that he was the Head Football Coach at Hertford County High School, West Carteret High School, Southern Vance High School and Southeast Halifax High School.

He and the other coaches were announced by Shrine Bowl of the Carolina’s Athletic Director Ron Long. They will coach the North Carolina team on Saturday, December 20 at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The players for the team will be announced at a later date.