Vote now: Who’s the Midlands’ high school football 2025 Coach of the Year?
It’s time to vote for The State’s 2025 high school football Coach of the Year from Midlands-area teams.
Voting ends at noon Monday, Dec. 15, and the winner will be announced along with the all-area football team.
Below are the nominees. You can vote as many times as you would like.
Midlands Football Coach of Year Nominees
Rodney Barr, CA Johnson: In his first season at CAJ, Barr led the Green Hornets to a 7-6 record and the third round of the playoffs. It was the first time in the modern playoff format that CA Johnson won two playoff games and just the third time since 1987 the Green Hornets won seven games in a season.
Aaron Brand, Irmo: Led the Yellow Jackets to 12-2 record and second-straight Class 5A Division II championship game. Irmo has 37 wins over the past three years, most in a three-year stretch in school history.
Demetrius Davis, Fairfield Central: Led the Griffins to a 10-4 mark and trip to the Class 2A Upper State championship game for the second-straight year. It is the first time since 2014-15 that FC made back-to-back semifinal appearances.
Cedrick Jeter, Newberry: Led the Bulldogs to an unbeaten regular season, 12-1 record and the third round of the Class 3A playoffs. It was the most wins in a season since 2015.
Tom Knotts, Dutch Fork: Led Dutch Fork to 12-1 record and fourth-straight Class 5A Division I championship. Knotts tied Summerville’s John McKissick and Woodruff’s Willie Varner for most championships (10) in state history. Knotts has won 10 or more games in 15 of his 16 seasons at Dutch Fork, and the Silver Foxes have appeared in 10 straight state championship games.
Demarcus Simons, Eau Claire: Simmons led EC to five wins, the most the program won since 1992, and a first-round playoff appearance.
Tymere Zimmerman, Heathwood Hall: Zimmerman led the Highlanders to nine wins and a trip to the SCISA Class 4A championship game. It was the most wins and first title game appearance since 2009.
