The Rampants are a NCHSAA 3A team from Greenville, NC competing in the Big East 4A/3A Conference, under second year head coach, Will Bland. Bland, a native of Havelock, North Carolina, graduated from East Carolina University where he played football for five years. He played for three head coaches during his time with the Pirates: Steve Logan, John Thompson, and Skip Holtz. Will Bland was an excellent wide receiver during his time at East Carolina, where he participated in the Papa John's Bowl.
His coaching career began at Farmville Central High School, where he spent one year coaching wide receivers and defensive backs under Dixon Sauls before moving to Greenville Rose in the fall of 2008. He was hired by Coach Todd Lipe to coach defensive backs and later was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2010 for the Rampants. In 2012 Coach Bland was named the Junior Varsity football team head coach and remained there until his recent promotion. Under his leadership the JV Programs produced a record of 59 - 19 in eight seasons with five Conference Championships 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and twice they went undefeated.
Bland's first full season as head coach came during the Covid-19 pandemic. In North Carolina the fall football season was moved to the spring of 2021. The season got under way on February 26, 2021 against conference rival New Bern High School. The Rampants picked up the 54 to 7 victory to give Coach Bland his first win as head coach. The Rampants cruised to an 6-0 start in the short Covid season. They won the East Carolina 4A/3A Conference for the first time since 2006. The Rampants were granted a home playoff game in the first round against undefeated Lee County High School. They fell in that game 26 to 34 and were knocked out of the playoff race.
Next season the Rampants will be in the new Big East 4A/3A Conference.
His coaching career began at Farmville Central High School, where he spent one year coaching wide receivers and defensive backs under Dixon Sauls before moving to Greenville Rose in the fall of 2008. He was hired by Coach Todd Lipe to coach defensive backs and later was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2010 for the Rampants. In 2012 Coach Bland was named the Junior Varsity football team head coach and remained there until his recent promotion. Under his leadership the JV Programs produced a record of 59 - 19 in eight seasons with five Conference Championships 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and twice they went undefeated.
Bland's first full season as head coach came during the Covid-19 pandemic. In North Carolina the fall football season was moved to the spring of 2021. The season got under way on February 26, 2021 against conference rival New Bern High School. The Rampants picked up the 54 to 7 victory to give Coach Bland his first win as head coach. The Rampants cruised to an 6-0 start in the short Covid season. They won the East Carolina 4A/3A Conference for the first time since 2006. The Rampants were granted a home playoff game in the first round against undefeated Lee County High School. They fell in that game 26 to 34 and were knocked out of the playoff race.
Next season the Rampants will be in the new Big East 4A/3A Conference.