New coach adjusting back to high school ranks with Heathwood Hall
One could forgive new Heathwood Hall football coach Danny Lewis if he’s still getting used to things. The former South Carolina State assistant was named the Highlander head coach in February, and he’s had to wear a number of different hats since taking over.
“It’s been chaotic,” Lewis said. “I don’t know if I’m football coach or equipment manager. I’m still trying to get chin straps and knee pads.”
Lewis will be the third coach for Heathwood Hall in the last three years. Steve Victory had the position from 2015-16 and Marcus Lattimore spent one season in charge in 2017 before returning to South Carolina in an off-field role.
The Highlanders have won five games the past three seasons and haven’t had a winning season since 2009. The hope is the former assistant under John Daye can turn the fortunes around.
“The attitude and effort are great. They’ve been running around with a lot of energy, so I’ve been very pleased,” Lewis said. “Who we’re going to be and where we’re going to go, I don’t know. We still have a little bit of time to figure that out.”
Lewis coached under Buddy Pough the last 10 seasons in Orangeburg. He was an assistant at Heathwood Hall from 1996-98 before going into the college ranks.
Now Lewis is tasked with replacing Lattimore, a legend in the Midlands for what he accomplished at South Carolina during his playing career.
“Big shoes to fill,” Lewis said. “He’s everything that everybody says about him. He did a fabulous job with our guys. They were down in the win column, but the attitude and effort has been fantastic, and I credit him with that.”
Heathwood Hall has eight starters returning. Offensively, they will rely on running back Davis Buchanan, offensive linemen Spears Goodlett, Juwan Hayes and Henry Kimbrough. Reagan Olsen and Hayden Wrenn return at wide receiver.
Newcomers in quarterback Alex Lewis, the coach’s son, and running back Keshaun Brown will also fill key roles. Lane Clarkson, Daniel Schmitt and Justin Lange will be counted on defensively.
One of the biggest keys is how quickly the Highlanders made the transition to their third head coach in as many years.
“It’s been smooth,” Buchanan said. “It was a good spring practice, the summer went well and looking forward to the season. There a lot of similarities that carried over. Practice is real organized with everything down to the minute. Coach Lewis has been in the business and that is always helpful.”
About Heathwood Hall
Coach: Danny Lewis (1st year)
Last year’s record: 1-9
Number of starters returning: 8
Key returning players: Davis Buchanan DB/RB, Lane Clarkson DB, Speats Goodlet OL, Drew Hall LB, Juwan Hayes OL, Henry Kimbrough OL/DL, Reagan Olsen WR/DB, Daniel Schmitt TE/LB, Hayden Wrenn WR
Newcomers to watch: Keshaun Brown RB, Alex Lewis QB, Az’hane Salaam
2018 schedule
Aug 16: at Robert E. Lee
Aug 24: at Wilson Hall
Aug 31: at Cardinal Newman
Sept 7: Laurence Manning
Sept 14: Pinewood Prep
Sept 21: at Augusta Christian
Sept 28: Porter-Gaud
Oct 5: Ben Lippen
Oct 12: at First Baptist
Oct 26: Hammond
This story was originally published August 16, 2018 at 11:43 AM.