Santo Ripa was hired as Cox's boys soccer coach, replacing Eric Blackmore. Ripa was an assistant for the Falcons as they won the Class 5 state championship in June. (Courtesy photo)

VIRGINIA BEACH — The new Cox High boys soccer coach can trade stories about the team’s state championship-winning season.

He was on the sideline coaching the Falcons.

Assistant coach Santo Ripa, 30, was named the Cox head coach this week, replacing Eric Blackmore, who stepped down after 10 seasons to pursue a career in administration.

“I’ve been telling everybody the same thing,” Ripa said. “(The state title) is probably, in my athletic history, my greatest achievement and accomplishment. Something I’ll celebrate to the end of time. Seeing the boys with that amount of joy and their ability (throughout the season) to deal with adversity I hadn’t seen in them before.”

Cox won the Class 5 crown with a 2-0 victory over Riverside last month, allowing Blackmore to go out on top.

“He was awesome,” Cox athletic director Jessica Horning said. “He just had a level of expectation for those boys as far as soccer, as far as being men and being good community members. I’m so happy he was able to finish his coaching career at Cox High School by adding another star to the jersey.”

Horning and the Cox administration set out to find a new coach who had similar qualities and who understood the athletic tradition at the school. Ripa had previously served as the junior-varsity coach before becoming a varsity assistant.

He also played soccer at VMI and has coached club for Beach FC and currently Virginia Rush.

“It was kind of intimidating,” Ripa said of the application process. “It’s a really prestigious school, in my opinion. Great Neck Road is an incredible place. When I found out initially (that I got the job), I was in a state of shock. I know I can handle the pressure, but naturally it’s got that form of intimidating where you’re stepping into a role. It’s exciting.”

The rivalry games between Cox and First Colonial will have one additional wrinkle as Ripa is a First Colonial alum and he’s ready to take the lighthearted jokes.

“Everyone can throw their funny jabs at me,” Ripa said with a chuckle, “but my goal is coach these boys, train these boys and develop them. I think you’ll see in time I care about my boys. No matter how you look at it, you’re developing young men.”

Ray Nimmo, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com