News Summary
Leon Boulware has been appointed as the new head football coach at Rock Hill High School, succeeding Randy Birch. Boulware leaves Lugoff-Elgin after a successful two-season tenure, where he led significant improvements in the team’s performance. This change comes just as spring football practices begin in South Carolina. Boulware, a graduate of Rock Hill High, has expressed his lifelong dream to return to this coaching role. The coaching changes reflect a dynamic landscape as schools prepare for the upcoming season.
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Leon Boulware has officially left his position as head football coach at Lugoff-Elgin to take on the head coaching role at Rock Hill High School. This transition comes just as high schools across the state begin their spring football practice. Boulware replaces Randy Birch, who was at the helm for just one season at Rock Hill.
Boulware was introduced as Rock Hill’s new head coach during a press conference held on Wednesday morning. He expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, noting that coaching at Rock Hill has been his dream job since the beginning of his coaching career. He indicated that while progress was being made at Lugoff-Elgin, the chance to return to Rock Hill was too significant to pass up.
Under Boulware’s leadership, Lugoff-Elgin experienced a notable improvement in performance, finishing the season with a 4-7 record after a 2-9 finish the prior year. This marked the largest improvement for the school since the 2016-17 season. His successful stint at Lugoff-Elgin will have new implications as the school searches for his successor, becoming the 13th football program in the Midlands to have a coaching change ahead of the upcoming season.
Along with Lugoff-Elgin, Airport High School is also looking for a new football coach, with interviews set to begin this week to fill that vacancy. The changes in coaching staff are occurring amidst preparations for the upcoming high school football season in the state.
Boulware’s extensive coaching ties throughout York, Chester, and Lancaster counties bolster his credentials. A graduate of Rock Hill High School, he not only played football there but also has strong personal connections—having met his wife while attending the school.
Before joining Lugoff-Elgin, Boulware had a successful coaching record at Lewisville High School, where he compiled an impressive 21-4 record over two seasons. His experience extends beyond high school football; he was also the head wrestling coach at North Myrtle Beach, leading the program to a state semifinal appearance. Boulware’s wide-ranging background includes serving as an assistant coach at various schools, including Lancaster, Nation Ford, Indian Land, and Northwestern. Notably, he was the wrestling coach at Indian Land and guided the team to consecutive state championships.
The complete list of ongoing coaching changes in the Midlands continues to reflect the shifts in leadership as schools prepare for the new football season. These changes indicate a dynamic coaching landscape as programs evaluate their needs and goals for the upcoming year.
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Additional Resources
- WBTV: Leon Boulware Named Head Football Coach
- Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
- Charlotte Observer: Article on Rock Hill High School
- Google Search: Rock Hill High School
- QC News: Rock Hill High School Welcomes New Head Football Coach
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Football
- Post and Courier: Michael Donald Named Head Football Coach
- Google News: Football Coaching Changes
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