This is a bold move for the program at Cuthbertson.  Kavanaugh 26, is taking over for David Johnson, who resigned after six seasons at the helm.  The Cavaliers went to the state semifinal game in 2014 with an 11-4 record on the season.  Also, they had two winning seasons under Johnson’s leadership at the school.

Kavanaugh has a stellar background, he accepted a walk-on invitation at Appalachian State University, where he played for all four seasons under his grandfather, former ASU head coach Jerry Moore.  Coach Moore is the most successful coach in the programs history, and is a member of the College Hall of Fame.

Moore coached the biggest upset in modern day football history when ASU defeated  Michigan 34-32 at Michigan when the Mountaineers were still a Division 1-AA program.

Kavanaugh began his football coaching career at East Carolina, then he moved to Charlotte and has been the receivers coach at Audrey Kell High School for the past three years.

He spent many years around his grandfather observing and learning the fundamentals of coaching which had to make a positive impact upon his chosen profession.

This move appears to be a great fit for Kavanaugh at this stage of his life and coaching career.  He will have a challenge as he enters his first season this Fall.  The Cavaliers have not had a winning season since 2015.  The team is coming off a 3-8 campaign and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Therefore, this is a rebuilding and turnaround opportunity for the new head coach to instill and rekindle a positive attitude and winning tradition at the school.  Kavanaugh is going to have to create a culture change in Cavalier country.

The Southern Conference is highly competitive, a tough conference, especially with solid teams that include Charlotte Catholic and Weddington who have both won state championships and are expected to compete again in 2019.