Habich, 32, is a 1995 graduate of Satellite (Fla.) High. He played college football at Mars Hill and graduated in 1999.

He was an high school assistant coach in Florida for six years before joining coach Dave Riggs' staff at Fuquay-Varina in 2005.

"This is a great opportunity," Habich said. "At Fuquay-Varina, we have a great community and everything is in place for a coach to be successful.

"The players here are willing to pay the price to be successful and to make the sacrifices that are necessary."

Habich expects to keep the Bengals in the Wing-T formation and to continue the same defensive scheme he has used the past three years.

"Ryan is the most qualified person to lead our football team," Fuquay-Varina athletic director Bruce Hemphill said. "He is young, energetic and has a plan -- a documented plan -- for the direction he wants to lead us in.

"He is organized and is well thought of in the school and community. Ryan was a huge part of success of the program here under the tutelage of Coach Riggs."

Habich and his wife, Amanda, a Hendersonville native whom he met at Mars Hill, have a 14-month-old son, Matthew, and are expecting a daughter, who is due in June.