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After meeting the players on his new team Wednesday, Joe Allen will be officially introduced as the head football coach at Churchill High School on Thursday, according to Bulldogs athletics director Dave Kelley. Allen spent the last two years as head coach at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

"Even going to St. John's [D.C.] in high school, I can remember Churchill being a power in the county," Allen said. "They've got a good, solid feeder program and had a great JV team last year. It's a big school, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

Allen replaces Greg Neuendorf, who went 10-10 during two seasons at the Potomac school. Neuendorf took Churchill to the brink of a 4A West Region playoff berth last fall, finishing 6-4 and just on the outside looking in.

He stepped down shortly after the season ended to move to North Carolina, where his wife accepted a job offer. Allen said he planned to maintain much of what Neuendorf put in place, including the Bulldogs' innovative spread option offense.

"[Allen] made a strong impression as a leader and a football coach," Kelley said. "I think our panel that held the interview felt he was best-suited to take the football program forward from where it is. Greg did a great job the last couple years transforming our program, and we're confident Joe will take it forward from there."

Allen went 2-8 in each of his two seasons heading up B-CC's program. In all, he spent eight years at the Bethesda school, five as the JV head coach. He said he will bring a number of his assistant coaches with him to Churchill.

"I thought it was time for a change," Allen said. "B-CC, the opportunity they gave me was phenomenal. … It's going to be an adjustment at Churchill, but I'm looking forward to it, no question about it."