Mike Vance gets it. People are probably going to ask: Do you really want to be the guy who replaces legendary high school football coach John Wolfgram?

“He is a tough act to follow but I’m pretty good at being Mike Vance. I know how to do that and I think the kids feel good about that, too,” Vance said.

Vance, 46, was announced as Cheverus High’s new football coach Friday. Vance has been Cheverus’ junior varsity football coach and the varsity team’s defensive coordinator the past 10 seasons, coming to the school with Wolfgram in 2006.

Wolfgram, 67, who is staying at Cheverus as an English teacher, retired as football coach in April. In 40 seasons as a head coach at four schools, Wolfgram’s teams went 309-92-1 and won 10 state championships – the last two at Cheverus in 2010 and 2011.

“He has a knowledge of the system that has been effective here the past 10 years,” Athletic Director Gary Hoyt said.

“He has the enthusiasm of doing well in his first head coaching assignment. He brings a huge desire to learn and grow.”

A 1988 graduate of South Portland High and resident of Scarborough, Vance played high school football for Wolfgram. After graduating from the University of New Mexico, Vance’s first assistant coaching job was on Wolfgram’s staff at South Portland in the early 1990s.

He then was an assistant coach at Gorham under his father Jay Vance and at Scarborough as part of Jack Flynn’s staff.

Vance’s father and Wolfgram started side-by-side on the offensive line for three seasons at University of Maine, Wolfgram at center and Jay Vance at left guard.

Vance said he won’t hesitate to seek out Wolfgram for advice.

“Wouldn’t you?” Vance said. “He’s offered to help me in any way that I’d like and I told him I’ll probably be calling him twice a day for awhile. We have a very good relationship. He’s been a coach, a mentor and a family friend.”

Cheverus finished 6-4 last season, losing to Windham in the regional semifinal.

Cheverus will likely continue to employ the Wing-T offense and stress doing a few things very well. Most of the Stags’ previous coaching staff will remain, Vance said.

“I am who I am and I’m deeply rooted in the Wing-T principles, and I believe those principles allow you to compete with a variety of athletes,” Vance said.

Cheverus senior Dan Baker, a former two-way starter, said Vance has the support of the athletes.

“There was no one else we were rooting for to get the job,” Baker said.

Justin Johnson, a senior captain of the 2015 team, was another player who sought out Vance to extend congratulations after Friday’s announcement.

Vance quickly turned the conversation toward Johnson, asking detailed questions about Johnson’s future college football plans at Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.

“He’s very involved with each player specifically,” Johnson said.

“He knows everyone’s name and he makes it a point to get to know you on a personal level as much as you can get.”

This is the first time Vance has applied for a head coaching job.

“I didn’t want to leave what we had here and also, my family wasn’t ready,” Vance said. “Our kids are young and my wife travels a lot for business.”

Mike Vance is the stay-at-home father of daughters, Abigail, 7, and Grace, 5. His wife Mercedes Vance is a national executive search consultant who helps colleges and universities fill administrative positions.

For Vance, becoming the Cheverus football coach was the right fit at the right time.

“You try to think to yourself, ‘why do I want this,’ ” he said. “The answer for me was clear. The culture here is one of respect and support, and it may sound cliche but it’s like family here. It doesn’t take long before you feel like you belong.”