Successful Midlands high school football coach resigning to take college job
After a successful run at Ridge View High School, Perry Parks is stepping down as head football coach.
Parks has resigned his position to become the next WRs coach at Charlotte for Will Healy. Parks replaces Montario Hardesty, who left to become the running back’s coach at South Carolina.
Parks’ hire was officially announced on Feb. 18.
Former South Carolina tight end coach Joe Cox, a friend of Parks, also recently joined Charlotte’s staff as tight ends coach.
“Hardest thing I have had to do in my coaching career,” Parks told The State on Friday. “We were able to build this thing from the ground up. When I got the job, there was chatter that said I wasn’t worthy of the job and that kind of fueled me. The proof was in the pudding in the games we were able to win and able to get kids to the next level and build a brand that is recognized all over the state of South Carolina.”
In addition to his wins, Parks was known for his presence on social media and always promoting his program in various ways with their #SaddleUp moniker.
Parks went 44-24 in his six seasons at Ridge View and led the Blazers to the Class 4A Upper State championship game in 2019. Ridge View went to third round of the playoffs three times under Parks.
Parks’ 44 wins ranked second in school history in victories, and he had 33 players sign with colleges during his time there. This year, Ridge View made the playoffs in its first season in moving up to Class 5A. The Blazers went 5-2 in COVID-shortened season and lost in first round to Upper State champion TL Hanna, 28-20.
Parks also helped spearhead the beginning of the Columbia Metro Bowl, which helped showcase senior football players from the Columbia area.
The new coach definitely will be walking into a good situation. The Blazers return several key players next year including quarterback Andre Washington. Ridge View also will have a on-campus stadium for the first time and a new weight room.
The new stadium at Ridge View and Richland Northeast and upgrades are part of the $467 million approved in the 2019 bond referendum, which will fund construction, maintenance and improvement of the district’s schools. Some of the improvements include new roofs, new stadiums, weight rooms, new buses, HVAC replacements and, in some cases, new schools.
“Walking out the door with the new weight room and stadium and knowing we had a big say in all of that, it is enough satisfaction and something to be proud of,” Parks said. “When you build something like that, it something hard to let it go and leave it.”
Before Ridge View, Parks was head coach at Lakewood High near Sumter for three seasons. He played for Sumter High School before walking on at Coastal Carolina where he was part of the Chanticleers’ first football program.
Assistant Jon Smith will be the school’s interim coach and a search has begun immediately for Parks’ successor.
MIDLANDS FOOTBALL COACH OPENINGS
School — Former Coach — New Coach
Hammond — Erik Kimrey — Jon Wheeler
White Knoll — Dean Howell — Nick Pelham
Ben Lippen — James Reynolds — Stephen Cagle
Richland Northeast — Will Richardson — TBD
Northside Christian — Stacy Bell — Dean Howell
Ridge View — Perry Parks — TBA
This story was originally published February 12, 2021 at 4:23 PM.
