Ben Lippen football hires former Midlands QB standout as new head coach
Stephen Cagle is getting his shot to be a high school football head coach.
Ben Lippen is hiring the 27-year-old Cagle to be the next leader of the Falcons’ football program. He replaces James Reynolds, who was the school’s coach the past four seasons. Cagle will be the youngest head football coach in the Midlands.
The school made the hire official late Monday night. Cagle was set to meet the players on Tuesday.
“It is super special. I came from a camp in sixth grade and said the Lord is calling me to a football coach,” Cagle said. “My dad was a football coach. It was a really cool lifestyle growing up. And being at Charleston Southern with Jamey Chadwell, who was my position coach, it reaffirmed what I wanted to do and that is impact young people for Jesus. I saw how my dad did that.
“Becoming a head coach is not about me. It is about the people who have invested in me, and I am trying to be faithful with their investment.”
Cagle has spent four years as an assistant for Dean Howell at White Knoll High School and was the Timberwolves’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons. He played at A.C. Flora for Howell, who had him join the White Knoll staff after Cagle finished playing college football at Charleston Southern.
“They are getting a good, young coach who loves the Lord,” said Howell, who is now at Northside Christian Academy. “He is an innovative coach who constantly is researching ways to get better. I think they got a guy who will not only have a huge impact on his football team but on their school and community as well.”
Cagle played tight end at CSU after a standout high school quarterback career at Flora. He was the 2011 Class 3A Player of the Year and was a North-South selection during his senior season. He also played tennis and baseball in high school at Flora.
Cagle comes for a coaching family. His father, Mark, was head coach at White Knoll and also has been an assistant at Lexington, A.C. Flora and currently is the defensive coordinator at Gilbert. Mark Cagle played at Furman from 1981-85. Stephen said his dad is helping him with the process of filling out his coaching staff, which he hopes to have done in the next few weeks.
Cagle said he will run an offense similar to one Chadwell ran at CSU and now runs at Coastal Carolina. He implemented those concepts at White Knoll and asked the quarterback to make a lot of decisions.
“It is an offense where we are going to put the defense in a bind,” Cagle said.
Ben Lippen made it to the semifinals of the SCISA 3A playoffs this year before losing to Laurence Manning. The Falcons made it to the second round of the postseason each of the past two years.
“We are extremely excited to have Stephen Cagle take over as our football program director,” Ben Lippen athletic director Shannon Glenn said. “His knowledge of the game, passion for kids, love for Christ and commitment to excellence make him the perfect addition to our athletic department. He is the brightest young football coach in the state, and the sky is the limit for him and our program.”
Cagle’s hire leaves only one Midlands football opening — Richland Northeast. The Cavs are looking for a replacement for Will Richardson, who was fired last month. RNE reposted the position on the Richland 2 School District job board on Friday.
Midlands football coach openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
Hammond — Erik Kimrey — Jon Wheeler
White Knoll — Dean Howell — Nick Pelham
Ben Lippen — James Reynolds — Stephen Cagle
Richland Northeast — Will Richardson — TBD
Northside Christian — Stacy Bell — Dean Howell
This story was originally published February 1, 2021 at 6:20 PM.
