Former Gamecock lineman lands in-state, head football coaching opportunity
Donell Stanley is ready to begin his coaching career.
The former South Carolina offensive line standout has been named head coach and athletic director at Dillon Christian High School. Stanley replaces Christian Wolfe, who stepped down in the summer before the start of the season. Brent Hardy was the interim coach this season for Dillon Christian, which competes in SC Independent Schools Association.
“We are so excited to have Mr. Donell Stanley join the Dillon Christian School family,” Dillon Christian Head of School Mandy Mussman said in a release Monday. “For our players to be able to learn from a coach with this level of skill and experience is unprecedented. This is an amazing opportunity for our young men and for our entire Athletic Department. As our sports program continues to grow exponentially.”
Stanley grew up in Dillon County and was a standout at Latta High School, where he was a 2014 US Army All-American Bowl selection and a finalist for SC’s Mr. Football.
Stanley’s hire came quickly. He was living in Florida but was back in Dillon County for Thanksgiving holiday when he was told about the job.
Stanley was looking to get into coaching now that his playing days were over. He thought it might be on the college level and even talked to Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer about possible opportunities and advice for his future.
“I’m back home coaching kids who grew up the same way I grew up and I just want to give back,” Stanley told The State. “Who knows what the future holds but I hope to be here at Dillon Christian for a while, changed the program, win a bunch of games and change lives. That is the biggest thing.”
Stanley has been around the team this week and offseason workouts have begun.
“The guys have been getting after it,” he said. “There is a lot of expectations for me and I expect a lot from them.”
As a sixth-year senior in 2019, Stanley started all 12 games for South Carolina, one at left guard and 11 at center. He played in 50 games overall for the Gamecocks, starting the last 38. Stanley was a team captain for South Carolina in 2019 and was one of the more popular players on the team.
Stanley was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent coming out of USC and also played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This story was originally published December 5, 2022 at 2:45 PM.
