‘We’ve got to stick together’: Swansea copes with coaching transition as 2018 starts
Like many high school football coaches in the Palmetto State, Swansea’s Eric Pack didn’t get much sleep before Friday’s first official practice.
It has been a tumultuous last month for Pack and the program. Pack was named interim coach after the school fired Greg Wright on June 28. Wright is suing Lexington School District 4 and other parties for $300,000. The school district has 30 days to respond to the suit, which was filed July 13.
Pack is not an unfamiliar face to the players or the program. He was an assistant under former coach Chad Leaphart, was a B-team coach and led the Swansea wrestling team to the Class 3A championship match last season.
“I’m here to help the community and build the Swansea football tradition,” Pack said. “No goals have changed. These young men are still focused. I’m supporting them 100 percent.”
The transition is a challenge for everyone involved, Pack admitted.
“These young men have really stepped up,” he said. “It’s all about their community. They’re taught that. They’ve worked out extra on their own. They’re tough individuals.”
Wright was a popular coach with his players, many of whom showed up when he went before the school board on July 12. Star linebacker Greg Williams, a Clemson commitment, showed up that night to support Wright, and wasn’t there for the first practice Friday. Pack hopes Williams will be there in the coming days.
Swansea had around 30 players out for its first official practice, and Pack expects around 40 to be on the team. Some of those absent are still dealing with emotions surrounding the coaching change.
It has been a tough month for the players because of the relationship they had with their former coach, quarterback Keenan Coats said.
“We’ve been trying to get our minds right,” Coats said. “It’s been hard because we had a personal relationship with him. It’s kind of hard just to get over him in just a little bit of time. We’ve been trying our best, though.
“He impacted our lives a lot, not just football but outside football.”
Coats said he and the rest of the seniors have the responsibility to keep the program moving forward. Swansea opens the season Aug. 17 against Lower Richland.
“I’ve got to step up and be a leader and get all my troops together so we can have a good season,” Coats said. “We’ve got to stick together as a family even though this time has been hard. We’ve got to stick together and put on for this community.”
About Swansea
Coach: Eric Pack (1st year)
Last year’s record: 4-7
2018 schedule
Aug. 17: vs. Lower Richland
Aug. 24: at Gray Collegiate
Aug. 31: vs. Airport
Sept. 7: at Wade Hampton (H)
Sept. 14: vs. Calhoun County
Sept. 21: at Silver Bluff
Sept. 28: vs. Gilbert
Oct. 5: vs. Strom Thurmond
Oct. 12: at Pelion
Oct. 26: at Edisto
This story was originally published July 27, 2018 at 1:39 PM.