Joe Sprouse, a former White River High athlete and current teacher and coach, has been tapped to take the reins of the Hornet football program.

Sprouse, who keeps busy the spring season as coach of the White River fastpitch squad, has spent the past six seasons as a football assistant. He has served a variety of roles with the varsity and junior varsity squads and was most recently in charge of the Hornet defensive backs.

Now, he gets to call all the shots.

Sprouse admits getting the opportunity to coach his alma mater is a dream come true.

“This has been my goal since high school,” he said.

Sprouse was all-league and all-state linebacker for the Hornets, graduating in 2000. He considered playing football at Eastern Washington University and spent some time with the team, but chose to put academics over athletics. He earned a teaching degree from the Cheney university and landed a job at White River, where he teaches United States history.

Sprouse said Hornet fans will see “a team that’s going to be aggressive, a team that likes to hit.

“I like a very aggressive style, both on offense and defense,” he said.

Sprouse will oversee two weeks of spring practice, take his squad to Central Washington University for team camp in June, then direct his charges into the weight room for the summer.

White River Athletic Director Chris Gibson said the school received 11 applications for the football job and an interview panel eventually spoke with four finalists.