Eau Claire football coach moving on after two seasons
Shaq Hilton has resigned as Eau Claire football coach after two seasons.
Hilton told The State he informed the Eau Claire administration of his decision on Wednesday.
“The timing for it was right,” Hilton said of his decision. “Eau Claire has a great community, and the alumni support we were able to establish has been great. I think we had a good connection with our kids, teaching them football, how to practice and prepare the right way.”
Hilton, a former Eau Claire assistant, replaced Michael Kelly as head coach and was also an assistant at West Ashley before coming back to the Midlands.
The Shamrocks went 0-16 in Hilton’s two seasons, going 0-9 this year. Five of the team’s losses were by 10 points or fewer. Eau Claire’s last win and playoff appearance came in 2019. The Shamrocks won four games in 2018 under Kelly. Eau Claire’s last winning season came in 1986.
Eau Claire is the third football opening in the Midlands this season. Columbia High decided to part ways with Jason Bush, and Spring Valley’s Robin Bacon stepped down as coach last month. Spring Valley hopes to have a new coach in place sometime in January.
Hilton, a three-time all-region selection at Columbia High School, said he is definitely interested in the job at his alma mater.
SC High School Football openings
School — Former School — New Coach
- Berea — Julius Prince — Drew Chisholm
- Clover — Brian Lane — TBA
- Colleton County — Kris Howell — TBA
- Columbia — Jason Bush — TBA
- Conway — Carlton Terry — TBA
- Darlington — Raymond Jennings — TBA
- Eau Claire — Shaq Hilton — TBA
- Georgetown — Jimmy Noonan — TBA
- Green Sea Floyds — Joey Price — TBA
- Landrum — Jason Farmer — TBA
- May River — Rodney Summers — TBA
- North Central — Tyronne Drakeford — Ryan McDonnell (interim)
- North Charleston — Devon Smalls — TBA
- Pickens — Chad Smith — TBA
- Spring Valley — Robin Bacon — TBA
- Ware Shoals — Chris Johnston — TBA
- Westside — Scott Earley — Brian Lane
- Woodmont — Jeff Murdock — TBA
- Woodruff — Bradley Adams — TBA
This story was originally published December 15, 2022 at 10:11 AM.
