[2/3/04]Michael Head has been a soccer player for most of his life. His future lies in the military.

He’s found a way to enjoy the best of both worlds for a little while.

Head, who set a Warren County boys’ career record for goals with 108 during his time at St. Aloysius, has verbally committed to the Virginia Military Institute. He will sign a letter of intent with the Lexington, Va., school later this week.

He is the second Warren County athlete to sign with VMI in less than a year. Former Warren Central basketball star Chi Chi Ezekwe began his freshman year there in August. He has played in 18 games this season and is averaging 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds.

Head wanted to go into the military after graduation, and saw VMI as a chance to do that while continuing his soccer career. He had also been recruited by Memphis, the Colorado School of Mines, and Alabama-Huntsville, where his cousin Brandi is on the women’s team.

“It’s a great school. I’ll be able to get a good job when I graduate,” Head said. “At this, I’ll be able to go to school, play soccer, and have a career in the military as an officer.”

Head will get a dose of military life right away at VMI. The school doesn’t allow freshman to have cell phones, cars, or civilian clothes on campus, and utilizes a strict military regimen similar to the service academies.

“It’ll keep me from partying a lot,” Head said with a chuckle. “I think I’ll be ready for it. I’ll have to grow up faster.”

Head had to grow up a little on the soccer field for St. Al this season. He led the team with 13 goals, or one for every defender that seemed to be draped on him each time he touched the ball.

As one of only a handful of seniors on the Flashes’ roster, and one of the few scoring threats, he was the focal point for opponents’ defenses and his own team’s attention every time the Flashes had the ball.

The experience allowed Head to see a glimpse of another potential career. He said he hopes to come back to St. Al someday as the school’s soccer coach.

“I felt like that’s what it would be like to be a coach. I have a lot more to learn to be one, because it takes a lot more than knowing about soccer,” Head said.

For now, he’ll focus on preparing himself to play on the Division I level. From now on, opponents won’t be the only ones gunning for him, he said.

“I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve been putting myself on a program to get faster so I can compete on the next level. I want to start my freshman year,” Head said. “I think the biggest adjustment is going to be competing for a starting position every day in practice. They don’t give you anything in college.”