Mid-Carolina football coach steps down but stays at school. Here are the details
Mid-Carolina High School is the latest Midlands program in search of a head football coach.
Chris Arnoult is stepping down as Rebels head coach after eight seasons. Arnoult will remain as the school’s athletic director. The Newberry County school district is splitting the athletic director and coaching job, and Arnoult said it’s perfect time to step away from coaching — for now.
“I decided to step back and have a little more time. My dad is getting older. I have kids getting married,” Arnoult told The State. “Being the athletic director, I will still be around it. Like I told my wife, this might be temporary or might be permanent.
“I feel like whoever gets this job will have a program that is in good shape, because I still will be around and have a vested interest. I will make sure I get the right person here.”
Arnoult, 56, will oversee the football team’s offseason program until his replacement is hired. The job was posted on Wednesday, and he hopes to have someone in place as soon as possible.
“I’m looking for someone who is energetic, has some experience, knows what they are doing and does things the right way,” Arnoult said. “We want someone who can take it over and not break stride with what we’ve got going right now.”
Arnoult led Mid-Carolina to a share of the Region 3-2A championship in 2025, the program’s first since 1991. The Rebels made four straight playoff appearances from 2022-25 after not making the postseason since 2015.
Before Mid-Carolina, Arnoult was the head coach at Chesterfield, going 28-17 and leading the Rams to the Region 4-2A title in 2015.
Arnoult also was an assistant at Irmo for 20 seasons. He was offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator during his time with the Yellow Jackets and part of eight region titles and three state runner-up teams.
Mid-Carolina will be staying in Class 2A as part of the 2026-28 S.C. High School League realignment and be in Region 3 with Andrew Jackson, Chester, Columbia, Keenan, Newberry and York Prep.
M-C’s opening is the fifth in the area this coaching cycle, joining AC Flora, Chapin, Pelion and White Knoll. Chapin and White Knoll have filled their vacancies, while AC Flora and Pelion are expected to fill theirs in the next few weeks.
SC Football Coaching Openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
AC Flora — Ken Floyd — TBA
Andrews — Scott Durham — TBA
Belton-Honea Path — Russell Blackston — TBA
Chapin — Ryan Cole — Cory Helms
Chester — Victor Floyd — TBA
Clover — Perry Woolright — Bennett Swygert
Colleton County — Adam Kinloch — Bradley Adams
Conway — Josh Pierce — Jody Jenerette
Goose Creek — Jason Winstead — TBA
Green Sea Floyds — Patrick Martin — TBA
Hillcrest — Bennett Swygert — TBA
Lake Wylie — (School opens in 2026) — N/A — Nick Pelham
Liberty — Paul Sutherland — Bobby Ruff
McCormick — Leroy Collier — TBA
Marion — Brian Hennecy — TBA
May River — Richard Bonneville — TBA
Mid-Carolina — Chris Arnoult — TBA
Ninety-Six — Matthew Bennett — Austin Sargent
North Myrtle Beach — Greg Hill — Perry Woolbright
Pelion — Cory Helms — TBA
South Florence — Drew Marlowe — Scott Braswell
St. James — Tommy Norwood — Stephen Cagle
Sumter — Mark Barnes — Drew Marlowe
Union County — Quinnon Isom — Bryan Robinson
Wagener-Salley — Blaze Gillespie — TBA
Whale Branch — Willie White (interim) — Dee Delaney
White Knoll — Nick Pelham — Victor Floyd
