For most prospective Division I college athletes the hardest decision is which school to attend. Episcopal High rising senior Danny Coale had a little bit more on his mind this summer.
A star midfielder for the Maroon lacrosse team, Coale garnered scholarship offers from Johns Hopkins and Virginia last fall. That’s two of the premier programs in the country that have combined to win 12 national titles. Add in that Coale’s older brother, Kevin, will be a redshirt sophomore next year at Virginia and that his family resides in Lexington, an hour’s drive from Charlottesville, and the decision seemed easy.
But the 6-foot, 195-pound Coale has always wanted to play college football. So when Virginia Tech came calling with a scholarship offer this summer, Coale suddenly found himself with another option. In the end, he chose football, verbally committing to the Hokies last Friday.
“I was really split,” Coale said. “Lacrosse and football are by far my two favorite sports and I was pretty thankful I had opportunities in both.
“To play lacrosse with my brother atVirginia was a hard thing to pass up. But he just kept telling me to do what makes me happy and when it came down to it, football is the direction I wanted to go in.”
Coale has thrived in football at wide receiver. As a junior, he had 27 receptions for 719 yards and 12 touchdowns; intercepted four passes, one for a touchdown, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
His combination of speed and athleticism was what college lacrosse coaches loved about Coale, according to Maroon lacrosse coach Peter Gillin. And what made him believe he can excel at Virginia Tech.
“We’ve never had a kid in my time at Episcopal play at that high a level in two different sports,” Gillin said. “But as good a lacrosse player as he is now, I believe Danny will be a better football player. I think he made the right decision.”
