Who will be Lexington High’s new football coach? 11 names to watch
The Lexington High School football coaching job is open after Perry Woolbright left to work at his alma mater of Clover.
The Lexington job is one of five openings in the Midlands and one of the more attractive jobs across South Carolina. It should receive a lot of interest and applicants. Woolbright was making $106,587 annually as Lexington’s football coach and athletic director, according to a public records search of salaries for S.C. high school football coaches.
The State compiled 11 names — listed in alphabetical order and with their current jobs — of folks we project could wind up as candidates and those who make sense as possible successors to Woolbright with the Wildcats. (This doesn’t mean a person on list has applied or has been contacted for the job. The Lexington job had not been officially posted online as of Tuesday evening. A high school coaching search typically lasts one to two months.)
▪ Dustin Curtis, Dorman coach: Curtis is a Lexington graduate who played on the Wildcats’ 2000 state championship runner-up team. He won a state title as head coach at A.C. Flora. It would be tough for him to leave the Dorman program after just one season.
▪ Corey Fountain, Clinton: Fountain has had success at head coaching stops at Lamar and Clinton. He led Lamar to a pair of state championships in 2015 and 2017. Clinton had an unbeaten regular season this year and played in the 3A Upper State championship game.
▪ Adam Gamble, Lexington offensive coordinator: Has been the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator and assistant, and he’s someone very familiar with the program.
▪ Chris Goodman, St. Joseph’s coach: Played on Lexington’s 2000 state runner-up team. Has had success as head coach at Chandler Prep in Arizona and is 19-6 in two seasons at St. Joseph’s.
▪ Chris Hamilton, South Aiken coach: Former Lexington assistant coach who has been head coach at South Aiken the past eight seasons.
▪ Justin Hardin, Charlotte Latin coach: Hardin is not from South Carolina but has ties to the area with brother Blair as the head coach at rival River Bluff. Justin has had success at Charlotte Latin and also has been head coach at Providence and Weddington in North Carolina, and an assistant at South Pointe in Rock Hill.
▪ Bryce Lybrand, Beaufort coach: Rising coaching name in the state with success he’s had at Beaufort. Lybrand led the Eagles to back-to-back state championship appearances, winning the school’s first 3A title in 2022.
▪ Chad Staggs: Assistant at Lexington from 2000-02 and has college coaching experience. Staggs has been an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern, Furman and Delta State. Most recently coached with Jamey Chadwell and the Chanticleers before Chadwell took the Liberty job.
▪ Treigh Sullivan, Gilbert running backs coach: Sullivan spent a decade at Dreher, the last nine as head coach. Joined Chad Leaphart’s staff last year as running backs coach.
▪ Bennett Swygert: Former Summerville quarterback interviewed recently for Hanahan opening. Swygert has several years experience as a college assistant coach at Newberry College and S.C. State.
▪ Jon Wheeler, Hammond coach: Like Curtis and Goodman, Wheeler is a Lexington graduate and part of the 2000 state runner-up. He has won two straight state SCISA 4A championships at Hammond.
This story was originally published February 1, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
