Spring Valley football looking for new coach after back-to-back winless seasons
Nygel Pearson has stepped down as Spring Valley football coach after two winless seasons.
Pearson said he informed the team of the move Friday evening.
“After meeting with the administration earlier this week, it became clear that our visions for the future of the football program were not aligned.” Pearson told The State on Saturday. “Ultimately, I made the decision to move on in the best interest of my family and to explore other opportunities for growth and leadership in the future.”
Pearson said he is unsure if he will continue to stay in high school coaching or possibly go back to the college ranks.
The Vikings went 0-21 in Pearson’s two years as head coach. The Vikings made the playoffs this year despite the winless record and lost to Ridge View in the first round.
Spring Valley, which has sent seven former players to the NFL, has a 24-game losing streak dating back to the 2022 season. The Vikings have a rich history and have won four state titles with the last coming in 1988.
Spring Valley reached the quarterfinals of the 5A playoffs in 2017.
Pearson replaced Robin Bacon, who stepped down and now is the head coach at American Leadership Academy in Lexington. The Darlington native was previously the head coach at North Rowan (N.C.) for three years, going 20-12 and making it to the third round of the playoffs twice. Pearson held several high school or college assistant jobs before that.
He played college football at S.C. State and was a second team all-MEAC selection as a senior.
The Vikings’ job is the first to come open in the Midlands since the end of the regular season. It’s the second opening locally.
Keenan placed Ray McLeod on administrative leave before the season started. Jarrett Neely was named interim coach and has a chance to get the full-time position. The Raiders have won eight games and hosted two playoff games. Keenan will travel to Loris in the third round next week.
SC High School Football Openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
Aiken — Dwayne Garrick — TBA
Gaffney — Dan Jones (retiring at end of season) — TBA
Greenville — Jaybo Shaw — TBA
Keenan — Ray McCleod — Jarrett Neely (interim)
Laurence Manning — Robbie Briggs — TBA
Midland Valley — Earl Chaptman — Brent Dorn (interim)
Nation Ford — Michael Allen — TBA
Oceanside Collegiate — Chad Wilkes — John Patterson (interim)
Spring Valley — Nygel Pearson — TBA
West Ashley — Donnie Kiefer — TBA
This story was originally published November 23, 2024 at 10:21 AM.
