Brian Hoffman
Glenvar High School will have two new coaches when the weather turns cold again, hopefully not until at least November. Boys’ basketball coach Hank Luton recently announced he was stepping down and last week wrestling coach Tim Miles did the same.
Both were very successful during their time at Glenvar. Luton was the head boys’ coach for two years and coached the Highlanders to a 28-20 record while competing in the very challenging Three Rivers District. He took a team that was 9-14 the year before and coached them to a 16-8 record his first season.
This past season may have been his best coaching job. He was expecting to have Brody Dawyot, one of the top scorers and rebounders in the greater Roanoke Valley, manning the middle of the lane for the Highlanders. However, Brody signed to play football at UNC-Charlotte and left Glenvar early to get a head start on his collegiate football career. Then Brody’s brother Tre, a scrappy guard, decided not to play and senior Cooper Mullins did not return due to an ankle injury suffered during the football season.
Luton was left with a very young team, and expectations weren’t high for the Highlanders outside the locker room. It didn’t help when freshman JD Williamson, who was off to a great start, injured his knee and was lost for the season. Despite the setbacks the Highlanders finished the season at .500, 12-12, and were competitive against everyone they played. The Highlanders built a solid core of underclassmen and Luton’s resignation came as somewhat of a surprise to the local basketball enthusiasts.
“It was a personal decision,” said Luton. “Glenvar’s been great to me but I felt it was better for me to spend more time as a dad. I hate leaving that group knowing the program is going in the right direction. Whoever takes over, they’ll be good next year.”
Miles spent three years in the corner for the Glenvar wrestling team. The Highlanders were Region 2C champions every year and finished sixth in the state in Class 2 in 2024, fourth in 2025 and third this past season. Tim had two individual state champions on the top step of the Salem Civic Center podium all three years.
“I have tremendous gratitude for my coaching family, Gibert Ortega and Jeb Wright,” said Miles. “Those guys gave more than I could have asked from a staff.”
Like the basketball team, the wrestling team has a solid group returning that includes two state champs and a state runner-up. Glenvar had six region champions last year of which five were underclassmen.
“I need to thank the parents, community and administration at Glenvar for their strong and unwavering support,” said Miles. “With their backing I have no doubt Glenvar will stay near the top of Virginia wrestling.”
Both jobs should draw multiple qualified candidates. Glenvar is regarded as a great place to coach with solid support from the community and administration and a history of success in high school athletics.
Scott Robertson Golfers
Two Salem High golfers competed in the Scott Robertson Memorial tournament at the Roanoke Country Club last weekend. The three-day tournament attracts some of the top young golfers in the nation.
Ashnoor Kaur, the reigning Class 4 state champion among both girls and boys, competed in the girls’ 15-18 division and tied for 33rd place. Ashnoor will be a senior at Salem High next year.
Chloe Collins, who will be a freshman at SHS in the fall, competed in the girls’ 14 and Under division and was 13th.
Pilat Is An Author
Bill Pilat, who was head lacrosse coach at Roanoke College for 37 years after earning All-American honors as a goalie for the Maroons has written a book. “The Difference: Lessons on and off the field” is available on Amazon.
“It was fun writing my book, The Difference, and getting the input from several Roanoke Lacrosse alumni and hearing their perspectives,” said Pilat. “I was proud to put in a book some of the things that make playing lacrosse at Roanoke College such a special experience that sets us apart from other college lacrosse programs.”
