He was Ridge View’s first QB when the school opened. Now he’ll be head coach
Derek Howard was part of the beginning of the Ridge View High School football program. Now he will be part of the team’s future.
The former Ridge View quarterback will be the school’s new football coach. The move was approved at Tuesday’s Richland 2 school board meeting. A press conference will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. A meet and greet with parents is scheduled for Thursday.
Howard replaces Perry Parks, who left last month to become the receivers coach at UNC Charlotte. Parks had been at Ridge View the past six seasons.
Howard was the starting quarterback at Ridge View when it opened in 1995 under coach Kirk Burnett. He played at Ridge View from 1995-97 and led the Blazers to a pair of 3A Upper State championship game appearances in 1996-1997, losing to Fairfield Central both times.
Howard went on to play at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He started at QB against Alcorn State before moving to running back the rest of his career where he was a four-year starter.
“It is one of the premier programs in South Carolina and it is home for me,” Howard said of Ridge View. “I got my first job as a teacher at Ridge View. Every coaching job I got came from a relationship with someone from Ridge View. I met my wife at Ridge View on the very first day it was open. The school has always there for me and rich with talent. All I want to do is be there, help these young men develop, win football games and continue to serve the community.
“The chance to be home, be closer to my wife and kids and compete on the 5A level with a team that is filled with Division I talent and primed for a championship run, it became so appealing that I had to jump on it.”
Howard has been the head coach at Wilson High School in Florence the past four seasons while still living in Columbia. The Tigers went 25-18 under Howard, including a 9-3 mark and a second-round trip to the Class 4A playoffs in 2019. Wilson made the playoffs in three of Howard’s four seasons.
Howard addressed his Wilson players on Tuesday and also posted a farewell message to Wilson community on Twitter.
Before Wilson, Howard spent five seasons as an assistant at Ridge View and was the team’s offensive coordinator. The Blazers’ offense averaged 31.3 points a game in Howard’s final season and advanced to the third round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Ridge View moved up to Class 5A last season and made the playoffs in the COVID-shortened year after going 5-2. The Blazers lost in the first round to Upper State champion T.L. Hanna 28-20.
Ridge View has made the playoffs five of the last six seasons and made it to the Class 4A Upper State championship game in 2019.
Howard is walking into a good situation. The Blazers lose several key players from last year but return quarterback Andre Washington, offensive lineman Tray Franklin, defensive end Antonio Gaines and linebacker Miquel Mason among others. Ridge View also will have an on-campus stadium to host all of its games and a new weight room.
The new stadiums at Ridge View and Richland Northeast and upgrades are part of the $467 million approved in the 2019 bond referendum, which will fund construction, maintenance and improvement of the district’s schools. Some of the improvements include new roofs, new stadiums, weight rooms, new buses, HVAC replacements and, in some cases, new schools.
“I think what it was like for that first varsity football game at Ridge View,” Howard said. “Now, to be able to truly defend our home turf with a stadium that rivals any top-notch stadium in South Carolina. It is a testament to administration in Richland 2 and we want to make sure it is a tough win and always protect our home turf.”
Howard said he doesn’t plan on making big changes with the coaching staff that is there at Ridge View. He will be the team’s offensive coordinator.
Howard will be the sixth new football coach in the Midlands for next season. Two more schools, Eau Claire and C.A. Johnson, have to fill openings.
Midlands football coaching 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 — Walt Wilson
Northside Christian — Stacy Bell — Dean Howell
Ridge View — Perry Parks — Derek Howard
Eau Claire — Michael Kelly — TBA
CA Johnson — Walt Wilson — TBA
This story was originally published March 9, 2021 at 7:45 PM.
