News Summary
The Lugoff-Elgin High School football program is searching for a new head coach after Leon Boulware’s departure to Rock Hill High School. Boulware’s exit marks a significant change for the team, which experienced a notable turnaround during his tenure, improving its record from 2-9 to 4-7. As the school prepares for the upcoming season, finding a suitable replacement is crucial to maintain momentum. This vacancy follows a wave of coaching changes across local high schools in the Midlands region.
Lugoff-Elgin, SC – The Lugoff-Elgin High School football program is on the hunt for a new head coach following the departure of Leon Boulware, who has accepted the head football coach position at Rock Hill High School. Boulware’s announcement was made public during a press conference held on Wednesday morning, marking a significant change for the team as spring football practices are set to commence this week.
Boulware’s move to Rock Hill High School comes as he replaces Randy Birch, who was let go after just one season with the program. Boulware expressed his heartfelt gratitude for his tenure at Lugoff-Elgin, highlighting the team’s notable progress during his time there. Under his leadership, the Lugoff-Elgin football squad witnessed improvements from a disappointing 2-9 record the previous year to a more favorable 4-7 in just one season, achieving the largest turnaround for the school since the 2016-17 season.
With deep roots in the surrounding area, Boulware’s connection to York, Chester, and Lancaster counties significantly influenced his decision to return to Rock Hill, where he is also a proud alumnus. Coaching at Rock Hill has long been a dream of his, providing a unique opportunity to serve his community and shape the futures of young athletes in the region.
Boulware boasts an extensive coaching history that spans 18 years, including successful tenures as head coach at both Lewisville and Lugoff-Elgin. At Lewisville, he achieved an impressive record of 21-4 over two seasons, transforming the program into a competitive force. He began his coaching career as an assistant at various schools, including Lancaster, Nation Ford, Indian Land, and Northwestern. Boulware also has a notable wrestling coaching background, having led Indian Land’s team to consecutive state championships and guiding Northwestern’s wrestling squad to a state semifinal appearance.
As Lugoff-Elgin begins to search for its next football coach, Boulware’s exit leaves them as the 13th school in the Midlands region seeking new leadership in football for the upcoming season. Airport High School is similarly engaged in the hiring process this week, actively seeking to fill their own coaching vacancy.
The coaching landscape in local high schools is changing as numerous schools have made significant personnel adjustments. Notable recent changes across various programs include the following:
- Academic Magnet: Mitch White has been replaced by Austin Miller.
- Aiken: Dwayne Garrick has been succeeded by Steve Hibbitts.
- Airport: Shane Fidler’s successor is yet to be announced.
- Allendale-Fairfax: Tristain Armstrong has been replaced by Travis Lewis.
- American Leadership: Robin Bacon has stepped down in favor of Kemper Amick.
- Brookland-Cayce: Rusty Charpia has been succeeded by Louis Clyburn.
- Gaffney: Dan Jones has made way for Donnie Littlejohn.
- Daniel: Jeff Fruster has transitioned to Chris Stone.
- Lugoff-Elgin: Leon Boulware’s position is vacant.
The departure of Boulware from Lugoff-Elgin marks a crucial moment for the school’s athletic program as they prepare for the challenges of the upcoming season. Finding a suitable replacement will be essential to maintain the momentum that Boulware fostered within the team.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Leon Boulware Takes Over as Head Coach at Rock Hill High School
Additional Resources
- WBTV: Leon Boulware Named Head Football Coach at Rock Hill High School
- The State: High School Sports News
- Charlotte Observer: Local Sports Updates
- Wikipedia: High School Football
- Post and Courier: Michael Donald Named Head Football Coach at Hemingway High School
- Google Search: High School Football Coaching Change