Richland Northeast football coach has resigned. Here is what we know
Richland Northeast is looking for a new football coach with spring practice less than a month away.
Walt Wilson has resigned as Cavaliers coach after five seasons, RNE athletic director Mironda Proctor told The State. Wilson was expected to tell his team of the decision Thursday afternoon.
“Coach Wilson is a legendary coach. He has a storied career that will forever be etched at Richland Northeast. He is a coach that cares for student athletes both on and off the field,” Proctor said. “Coach Wilson has served as a father figure for a lot of our young men and has created opportunities for students to pursue academic and athletic careers at the next level. I’m thankful to have worked alongside him and be a very small piece of his journey.”
Wilson helped re-energize the Cavs’ program with back-to-back winning seasons in 2023-24. RNE made it to the second round of the playoffs in those two seasons. It was RNE’s first playoff win since 2015 and first time the school had back-to-back seasons over .500 since 2010-12.
The Cavs’ 2023 squad scored a school-record 479 points in 12 games. Wilson’s son, Will, also became the first player in school history to be named SC Mr. Football when he won the award in 2024. He is currently playing football at NC State.
Prior to Wilson’s arrival in 2021, the school hadn’t won a game since 2018.
The Cavs went 0-10 this season. RNE offensive coordinator Jason Jones will be the interim coach until a permanent replacement is found. The job is expected to be posted Friday.
Teams around the state can begin spring practice on May 1.
Before RNE, Wilson coached at CA Johnson, and led Battery Creek to three straight playoff appearances in his three seasons. He is best known for his run at Calhoun County, where he coached future Gamecock and current NFL player Alshon Jeffrey, among others. Calhoun County won four region titles in seven seasons under Wilson, himself a former standout at Eau Claire High School.
Wilson also was head coach at Kingstree and spent time as an assistant at Blackville-Hilda, Sumter and Irmo.
This is the second head coaching opening at RNE. The Cavaliers are looking to replace boys basketball coach Jacob Laurie.
SC Football Coaching Openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
AC Flora — Ken Floyd — Willie Offord
Belton-Honea Path — Russell Blackston — David Crane
Chapin — Ryan Cole — Cory Helms
Chester — Victor Floyd — Jerry Caldwell
Clover — Perry Woolright — Bennett Swygert
Colleton County — Adam Kinloch — Bradley Adams
Conway — Josh Pierce — Jody Jenerette
Goose Creek — Jason Winstead — Jamie Fordham
Green Sea Floyds — Patrick Martin — Ty Southerland
Hillcrest — Bennett Swygert — Amos Lamb
Lake Wylie — (School opens in 2026) — N/A — Nick Pelham
Lakewood — Willie Offord — Jerran Devlin
Liberty — Paul Sutherland — Bobby Ruff
McCormick — Leroy Collier — TBA
Marion — Brian Hennecy — TBA
May River — Richard Bonneville — Stephen Nimmer
Mid-Carolina — Chris Arnoult — Jody Haltiwanger
Ninety-Six — Matthew Bennett — Austin Sargent
North Myrtle Beach — Greg Hill — Perry Woolbright
Pelion — Cory Helms — Matthew Bennett
Richland Northeast — Walt Wilson — TBA
Seneca — David Crane — Drec Ellis
South Florence — Drew Marlowe — Scott Braswell
St. James — Tommy Norwood — Stephen Cagle
Sumter — Mark Barnes — Drew Marlowe
Timberland — Greg Wright — TBA
Union County — Quinnon Isom — Bryan Robinson
Wagener-Salley — Blaze Gillespie — E’Mond Brown
This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM.
