Hammond hires new football coach to fill void left by Erik Kimrey’s departure
Hammond didn’t take long to find its new football coach.
The Skyhawks hired former assistant coach Jon Wheeler on Friday to replace Erik Kimrey, who left to become the tight ends coach at the University South Carolina on Dec. 23. Wheeler was the head coach at St. Joseph’s in Greenville for the past three years and was 21-10 overall, including 6-2 record in 2020. St. Joseph’s went to the playoffs in all three seasons.
Wheeler will meet with the Hammond players for the first time Monday.
“This was tough because this was fun what we did up here at St. Joseph’s. We got real close to the community,” Wheeler said. “But I told them at St. Joe’s if I ever leave it would be for Hammond but I didn’t think Kimrey going anywhere.
This will be Wheeler’s third stint at Hammond but first as head coach. Wheeler was a Skyhawks assistant coach in 2015-16 and athletic director/assistant coach from 2008-09.
Wheeler was the head coach at Heathwood Hall from 2011-14, and the Highlanders made the playoffs all four years. He also coached in college at Wofford in 2017, North Greenville and was grad assistant three seasons at South Carolina under Steve Spurrier.
Wheeler was a standout at Lexington High School and played at Wofford and was part of the Terriers FCS semifinal team in 2004.
Hammond won its fourth straight SCISA 3A championship with a 26-6 win over Laurence Manning on Nov. 20. Under Kimrey, the Skyhawks won 12 state titles in 17 seasons. Kimrey posted a message of congratulations to Wheeler on Twitter on the hire.
“So happy for my good friend Jon Wheeler. John is a man of integrity who values developing the whole student athlete through the sport of football. His leadership will enrich the lives of the you men he coaches. Congrats,” Kimrey said.
Wheeler knows it will be impossible to replace Kimrey but will take the advice Kimrey gave him a while back and ‘just be yourself.’
“Obviously you can’t replace an Erik Kimrey. He has done things no one has done on any level in high school football,” Wheeler said. “Best thing I can do is take advice I got from Erik and just be myself. That is what I look forward to. I look forward to the challenge and having that pressure and seeing at as a privilege.”
The team will return a talented roster including 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Stokes, who is ranked in the top 15 for high school prospects in South Carolina for Class of 2022.
Midlands football coach openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
Hammond — Erik Kimrey — Jon Wheeler
Ben Lippen — James Reynolds — TBD
White Knoll — Dean Howell — TBD
Richland Northeast — Will Richardson — TBD
This story was originally published January 8, 2021 at 3:03 PM.
