New football coach named at AC Flora. It’s a familiar face for the program
A.C. Flora High School stayed close to home for its next head football coach.
Ken Floyd, Flora’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, will be the Falcons’ new coach. He replaces Dustin Curtis, who left to become head coach at Dorman High last month.
“I’m super excited for the opportunity,” Floyd said Friday night. “AC Flora is a special place. To get this as your first head coaching job is truly special.”
This will be Floyd’s first head coaching opportunity. The players and coaches were informed of the hire on Friday. Curtis gave his stamp of approval of his former assistant getting the job.
Floyd was named co-interim coach along with defensive coordinator Bennett Weigle after Curtis took the Dorman job. Weigle also was a candidate along with Beaufort head coach Bryce Lybrand. Both Lybrand and Floyd withdrew their names from consideration.
“Ken Floyd has definitely earned this opportunity and has loved being at Flora for a long time. I’m so proud of him and the kind of coach, husband, and father he has been over the years,” Curtis said. “Falcon Football will also experience continuity while being led by one of the most passionate coaches on staff. Couldn’t be happier for all of the Falcon Community for this choice.”
Floyd has been assistant in two different stints at Flora, the last three years under Curtis. He also served as an assistant at Irmo and Swansea.
Floyd attended Fairfield Central High School and was part of two state championship teams and was a standout in college at North Greenville. He said he has taken different things from each stop as a player and coach to get ready for the opportunity.
“Just keep it simple, loving on the guys and keeping it about the kids,” Floyd said. “Be organized and motivate the guys to give it their all is the biggest things I have learned.”
Under Floyd, Flora has had one of the top offenses in the state over the past few seasons.
The Falcons averaged 491 yards per game in 2020 on their way to winning the school’s first state championship. Flora averaged 361 yards per game this season and made it to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Floyd isn’t sure if he will still call the plays as head coach. He hopes to keep most of the Falcons’ coaching staff in tact and will spend the next few months working with his players in offseason workouts to get get ready for spring practice.
The AC Flora hire leaves Airport, Ben Lippen, Dreher and Westwood without head coaches. Airport has begun interviews for its replacement for Kirk Burnett and Ben Lippen is close to naming a replacement for Stephen Cagle. Dreher and Westwood still are in the early process of filling their openings.
SC High School Football Openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
AC Flora — Dustin Curtis— Ken Floyd
Airport — Kirk Burnett — TBA
Bamberg-Ehrhardt — Robert Williams — Corey Crosby
Batesburg-Leesville — Gary Adams — Gene Cathcart
Ben Lippen — Stephen Cagle — TBA
Bluffton — John Houpt— Hayden Gregory
Boiling Springs — Rick Tate — Matt Reel
Dorman — Dave Guttshall — Dustin Curtis
Dreher — Treigh Sullivan — TBA
Hilton Head Prep — Dave Adams — TBA
Lamar — Chad Wilkes — TBA
Lewisville — Will Mitchell — Leon Boulware
Newberry — Phil Strickland — Cedrick Jeter
North Augusta — Jim Bob Bryant — TBA
North Myrtle Beach — Matt Reel — TBA
Oceanside Collegiate — Joe Call — Chad Wilkes
Stall — Joe Bessinger — Benjamin Lailson
Travelers Rest — Ray Gould — TBA
Westwood — Matt Quinn — TBA
