SCTCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame
Bob Jenkins
(York, Rock Hill, Northwestern,
South Pointe)
Inducted April 7, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 1993
Deceased (April 29, 2013)
Robert T. "Bob" Jenkins began coaching in 1957. He coached at York High School, Rock Hill High School and, from 1971 - 1995, coached at Northwestern High School. While at Northwestern, his Track teams won the State Championship 3 years and were runner up 2 years. His Cross Country teams won the State Championship 3 years and were runner up 1 year. He was a founding member of the S C Track & Cross Country Coaches Association and was President from 1974-78 and 1992-95.
Frank Small
(Beaufort)
Inducted April 7, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 1999
Deceased (March 31, 1997)
A legendary pioneer of Lowcountry athletics, Coach Frank Small built a historic track and field dynasty at Beaufort High School defined by grit, ingenuity, and unparalleled championship success. Inducted into the SCACA Hall of Fame in 1999 and the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on April 7, 2001, Coach Small guided the Eagles through a golden era of dominance during the 1960s. Despite having virtually no traditional track and field facilities at his disposal, he used his boundless imagination and innovative training methods to mold raw local talent into state-wide powerhouses. Under his brilliant leadership, Beaufort captured an incredible six state championship titles (1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968) and finished as state runner-up multiple times. Coach Small was revered not only for his tactical mastery and ability to squeeze peak performance out of every athlete, but also for his unwavering belief in his team. His enduring legacy of resourcefulness and championship standard laid the foundation for the sport's growth in coastal South Carolina, making him one of the truly legendary figures in Palmetto State history.
George Johnson
(Brookland-Cayce/Ben Lippen)
Inducted April 7, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2002
Deceased (July 3, 2012)
George W. Johnson, Jr. coached at Brookland-Cayce High School from 1959 - 1989, and at Ben Lippen High School from 1989 to present. His Ben Lippen track teams won 2 State Championships. His Ben Lippen cross country teams won 1 State Championship and were runner up 1 time. In addition to the team titles, Coach Johnson coached multiple athletes who continued their running at the collegiate level including one Olympian. He, along with Coach Bob Jenkins are considered the "Fathers" of Cross Country in the state of South Carolina as they pushed the High School League to make it an "Official" State Championship while competing against each other and other schools prior to that being done. After retiring from Brookland-Cayce, Coach Johnson moved over to Ben Lippen School and coached for another 22 years. Ben Lippen won a 1-A State Track Title in Track while in the SCHSL before switching affiliation to SCISA and winning 10 consecutive State Titles in Boys Cross Country.
Harold Jones
(TL Hanna)
Inducted April 7, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2002
While known worldwide for his football legacy and his beautiful, lifelong mentorship of James Robert "Radio" Kennedy—a story immortalized in the 2003 feature film Radio—Coach Harold Jones was also a cornerstone of the track and field community. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on April 7, 2001 (Class of 2002), Coach Jones spent 34 years from 1965 to 1999 teaching and coaching at T.L. Hanna High School. During the spring seasons, he poured his heart into directing the varsity track and field program, where his coaching philosophy of inclusion, character, and respect truly shined. He famously integrated Radio into the track team, dressing him in a Yellow Jackets uniform and coordinating with opposing coaches to let him run in the slower heats so he could experience the thrill of the race. Coach Jones’s career remains a powerful testament to the idea that sports are about far more than wins and losses; they are a vehicle for compassion, community, and changing lives. His legacy at T.L. Hanna and throughout South Carolina remains a shining beacon of what it truly means to be a coach.
Photo credit: Anderson Independent
Patricia Gold
(Eau Claire)
Inducted April 7, 2001
A legendary figure who turned Eau Claire High School into one of the most feared track and field powers in South Carolina, Coach Pat Gold spent decades building a culture of speed, discipline, and competitive fire. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2000, Coach Gold’s tenure with the Shamrocks was marked by an era of incredible championship dominance. She guided Eau Claire to multiple Class AAA State Championship track and field titles, establishing a program known statewide for its relentless work ethic and technical excellence. Beyond the state trophies and individual champions she developed, Coach Gold was a deeply respected educator and mentor who demanded excellence both on the track and in the classroom. Her ability to connect with, motivate, and bring out the best in his athletes left an indelible mark on Columbia-area athletics. Coach Gold's legacy of championship building and her absolute dedication to the student-athletes of Eau Claire continue to serve as an inspiration across the Palmetto State.
Bob Reynolds
(Booker T Washington/AC Flora)
Inducted September 15, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2008
Deceased September 17, 2024
Bob coached boys and girls track and cross country at Booker T. Washington for 11 years and at A.C. Flora for 12. His career coaching record in track and field is 276-44 and in cross country 204-25. He won 6 State Championships in Track and 1 State Championship in Cross Country. He was one of the charter members of the S.C. Track and Cross Country Coaches Association and was Vice-President. Bob was the state nominee for National Coach of the Year, three times and was the first African-American cross country coach in the State of South Carolina.
Delmer Howell
(Mauldin)
Inducted September 15, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2021
Delmer has coached boys and girls cross country at Mauldin HS for 19 years. His overall coaching record is 203-42. He has won 5 Boys State Championships and 6 Girls State Championships. He has coached 5 Individual State Champions. He had 2 teams designated All American by the Harrier Magazine. Delmer as been a meet official at the Coaches Classic and State Meets for 19 years and has been the Head Coach for the Shrine Bowl Game Ball Run.
Eileen Kilbreth
(Spartanburg/Summerville)
Inducted September 15, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2005
Eileen has coached girls cross country at Spartanburg HS for 18 years. Her career coaching record is 140-39. Her teams have also won 38 major invitational titles. She won 4 State Championships in Cross Country and has been runner up four times. She has also officiated for many years at major track meets in the State. Eileen continues to coach "the team to beat" in the state of SC.
Photo credit: Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Jim Kilbreth
(Spartanburg/Summerville)
Inducted September 15, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2005
Jim has coached boys cross country at Lyons Turnpike HS, Lagrange IL for 13 years. He then came to Spartanburg HS where he coached cross country for 19 years. His career coaching record is 333-36. Jim has won 5 State Championships and has been runner up 8 times. He has been Treasurer, Vice-President and President of the SCTCCCA. His teams hold the State Record of 119 straight dual meet victories. They did not lose one dual meet during the 1980's. Jim has twice been a National Cross Country Coach of the Year finalist.
Mike Mauldin
(Irmo)
Inducted September 15, 2001
Mike coached Cross Country and Track for 20 years. He started his career at Summerville HS and finished at Irmo HS. His career coaching record in track and field was 98-27 and in cross country 171-13. He won 6 State Championships in Girls Cross Country and 3 State Championships in Boys Cross Country. He was president of the S.C. Track & Cross Country Coaches Assn in 1979, 1980 & 1981. Mike is back in coaching now coaching football and soccer at Irmo HS.
Photo credit: Facebook
Ted Whitaker
(McCracken/Bluffton/Hilton Head)
Inducted September 15, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2001
Theodore James "Ted" Whitaker, Jr. was coach at McCracken-Bluffton-Hilton Head High School from 1970 to 1996. His boys Cross Country Teams won 1 State Championship and were runner up 2 times. His boys Track teams won 3 State Championships and were runner up 1 time. His girls Track Team won 6 State Championships and were runner up 1 time. He was a founding member of the S. C. Track & Cross Country Coaches Association and held the position of Vice President.
Willie Wooden
(Riverside)
Inducted September 15, 2001
SCACA Hall of Fame 2014
Deceased (May 9, 2019)
Willie has coached girls and boys cross country at Riverside HS for 14 years. He also coached boys track and field for 16 years and girls track for 2 years. His overall track coaching record is 139-19. His overall cross country record is 254-32. He won 3 Boys Track & Field State Championships, 3 Girls Cross Country State Championships and a state record of 11 straight Boys Cross Country State Championships. Willie also was a Vice President in the SCTCCCA.
Photo credit: Greenville News/MileSplitSC
Photo credit: The State Newspaper
Gilbert Bristow
(Columbia)
Inducted March 30, 2002
Deceased (December 17. 1986)
GILBERT BRISTOW coached at Columbia High School. He holds the record for the Most Consecutive State Championships in Boys Track & Field. His team won the State Championship 7 years in a row from 1935-1941. Coach Bristow passed away in 1986. Accepting his award for him today is his daughter, Louise Kinsey, his grandson, John Kinsey and his great-grandson Bristow Kinsey.
Yodell Winborn
(Rock Hill)
Inducted March 30, 2002
SCACA Hall of Fame 2005
Deceased (February 10, 2006)
YODELL WINBORN has coached at Rock Hill High School for 28 years. His Boys Track Team has amassed a dual meet record of 243 and 37. He has been Region Coach of the Year 3 times and in 1984, he was State Coach of the Year when his team won the State Championship. He has been a member of the SC Coaches Association for 41 years and a member of the Track Coaches Association for 27 years.
Photo credit: York County Athletic Hall of Fame
Photo credit: Greenville News/MileSplitSC
Ed Boehmke
(Eastside)
Inducted September 14, 2002
SCACA Hall of Fame 2012
Ed Boehmke was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2002. He was the head Track and Cross Country Coach at Eastside from 1985 until 2016, and continues to work with the program through the present. He was the president of the SCTCCCA from 1988-1992, and has served the association in many ways throughout his time. Coach Boehmke won 2 state championships in boys cross country and 1 in girls cross country, with 5 runner up finishes for boys and 3 for girls. He has had multiple region championships in both cross country and track and field.
Mike Moore
(Orangeburg-Wilkinson/Irmo)
Inducted September 14, 2002
SCACA Hall of Fame 2022
Deceased (September 17, 2015)
A beloved figure widely revered as one of the "godfathers" of South Carolina cross country, Coach Mike Moore dedicated 40 years of his life to fostering a lifelong love of running in his athletes. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on September 14, 2002, and the USATF South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2008, Coach Moore’s legendary career was highlighted by his long and highly successful tenure at Irmo High School, where he guided both the boys' and girls' cross country teams to a pair of Class AAAA State Championships in the 1990s alongside numerous region crowns. Beyond his team titles, Coach Moore was a visionary organizer who helped build the very infrastructure of the sport in the Palmetto State. He is credited with co-founding the Lake Murray Invitational, launching the SCTCCCA Bob Jenkins Coaches Classic, and establishing the historic Mike Moore Shrine Bowl Game Ball Run. Following his passing in 2015, Coach Moore’s legacy is remembered not just through the championships won or the major meets he founded, but through his immense heart, his belief that every runner mattered regardless of their speed, and his unmatched dedication to the South Carolina running community.
Photo credit: MileSplitSC
Photo credit: the Columbia Star
Charles Stuart
(Dreher)
Inducted March 7, 2003
SCACA Hall of Fame 1993
Deceased (November 23, 2005)
A legendary builder of champions and a cornerstone of Columbia-area athletics, Coach Charles "Charlie" Stuart established an extraordinary legacy of competitive excellence and selfless service. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 1993, Coach Stuart’s tenure at Dreher High School in the 1950s and 1960s remains one of the most successful eras in Palmetto State track and field history. As a master strategist and motivator, he guided the Blue Devils’ track program to three state championships, two state runner-up finishes, and an astonishing run of five consecutive undefeated seasons. His championship pedigree extended across sports, also leading Dreher’s football team to a state championship as the 1957 State Coach of the Year. Following his legendary coaching career, he transitioned to athletic administration, serving as the Richland District One Athletic Director, where he pioneered the expansion of sports and teams for female student-athletes and spent decades officiating as a starter for state track and cross country meets. Coach Stuart’s profound dedication to student-athletes, combined with his immense contributions to the structure of high school sports, continues to be honored statewide—including through the SCACA's Charles Arthur Stuart Athletic Administrator Award.
Rut Dingle
(Lugoff-Elgin/Sumter)
Inducted March 7, 2003
Deceased (December 22, 2023)
Rut Dingle was the Head Track Coach at Lugoff-Elgin High School from 1973-1985 and Sumter High School from 1986-1995. During this time, Rut won eleven Region Championships and eight Lower State Championships. His teams won the State Championships in 1990 and 1995 and was the State Runner-up once with the girls and four times with the boys. He was also the Head Cross Country Coach from 1973-1983 at Lugoff-Elgin and 1986-1994 at Sumter. In Cross Country, he won one State Championship and 6 Region Championships. Rut coached 43 male and 12 female State Champions. He also coached one National Champion in the 110 High Hurdles, five All-Americans, and 3 Olympians. Rut served as President of the SCTCCCA from 1994-1996 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2023.
Photo credit: The Sumter Item
Photo credit: SCCAWS.org
Barbara Wilkes
(Mt Pisgah/North Central)
Inducted September 13, 2003
SCACA Hall of Fame 1999
A pioneering force and a true trailblazer for female coaches in South Carolina high school athletics, Coach Barbara Wilkes built an extraordinary legacy of leadership, versatility, and championship success. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame, Coach Wilkes's legendary career began at Mt. Pisgah High School and Baron DeKalb High School before the schools consolidated in 1979 to form North Central High School, where she dedicated 29 years of elite service. As a charter member of the SCTCCCA, she was named the South Carolina Coach of the Year in Track and Cross Country in 1979, proving her exceptional ability to guide athletes to peak performances on the track. Her immense impact on high school sports was further solidified in 1989 when she made history by becoming one of the first female athletic directors in the South Carolina High School League. Revered statewide for her championship pedigree—which included multiple state titles across sports—and her unwavering commitment to developing character and physical fitness in her students, Coach Wilkes remains a towering role model whose pioneering contributions paved the way for future generations of coaches and athletic administrators across the Palmetto State.
Chuck Parker
(TL Hanna)
Inducted September 13, 2003
SCACA Hall of Fame 2024
Chuck began his coaching career in 1972 at R.B. Stall High School, coaching cross country and track and field. He later coached at the collegiate level for five years in the late 1970s and early 1980s at The Citadel and Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University). In 1986, Chuck returned to high school athletics, joining T.L. Hanna High School as an assistant football and girls’ track and field coach. He started the girls’ cross country program in 1987. At Hanna, Chuck built a successful program, most notably leading the girls’ cross country team to a perfect score at the 3A state meet in 1993, a feat that has never been duplicated. He also won the 1994 State Championship and was runner-up in 1995. He was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2003 and the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Photo credit: Milesplit SC
David Pratt
(Woodruff/Dorman/Hanahan)
Inducted March 27, 2003
A legendary coach whose impact spans collegiate and high school tracks across South Carolina, Coach David Pratt built a monumental 30-year high school coaching career defined by elite player development and sustained championship success. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 27, 2004, Coach Pratt’s peerless resume includes an incredible eight team state championship titles—guiding both Woodruff High School (during their dominant runs in the 1980s) and later Hanahan High School to the pinnacle of Palmetto State track and field. At Hanahan, he engineered a powerhouse program, capturing three state championships (including a historic, dominant repeat title in 2015) and earning the USTFCCCA South Carolina Coach of the Year award in 2015. His brilliance was not limited to the high school ranks; his legendary tenure at Charleston Southern University (CSU) earned him induction into the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990 and resulted in the university co-naming its track facility in his honor in 2001. Known for his deep technical wisdom, motivational fire, and his unique gift for making his athletes believe they could "move mountains", Coach Pratt remains one of the most revered and accomplished figures in the history of South Carolina track and field.
William J. "Bill" Ramborger
(SC School for the Deaf and Blind)
Inducted March 27, 2004
SCACA Hall of Fame 2009
William J. "Bill" Ramborger dedicated over three decades to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB), transforming its track and field program into a powerhouse of national and state prominence. Over a distinguished 34-year tenure coaching both the boys' and girls' teams, Ramborger led SCSDB to consecutive Deaf National Boys Track Championships in 1977 and 1978, alongside three Deaf National Girls Track Championships in 1978, 1979, and 1989. His regional dominance is underscored by 8 Boys Track Conference Championships, 7 Upper State titles, 4 Girls Track Conference Championships, and an Upper State crown, earning him South Carolina State Track Coach of the Year honors in 1977 and 1978. A three-time Deaf National Track Coach of the Year and the 1970 Track Coach of the Decade, Ramborger’s influence reached the global stage as a five-time Assistant Coach for the U.S. Deaflympics team (1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, and 1993), directly mentoring 18 SCSDB athletes sent to the global games. The SCSDB boys hold the Deaf National Records in eight events and his girls hold the National Records in three events. His enduring legacy is permanently honored at SCSDB, which named its new track facility after him in 1988.
Photo credit: Gallaudet University Hall of Fame Website
John Jones
(Spring Valley)
Inducted March 26, 2005
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2005, Coach John Jones spent nearly four decades cementing Spring Valley High School as a premier track and field power in South Carolina. Over his legendary 39-year career, the West Point graduate and former Army officer guided the Vikings to six state championships and over 15 region titles, emphasizing a dedication to excellence that earned him the 2013 NFHS National Boys' Track and Field Coach of the Year honors. Beyond his immense dual success in track and cross country, Jones is widely celebrated as the visionary co-founder and longtime meet director of the prestigious All American Track Classic (formerly the Taco Bell/Bojangles’ Classic), which he grew from a local 13-team invite into one of the country's elite, multi-state high school showcases. A pioneer in coaching education and a former SCTCCCA president, Coach Jones' tireless efforts raised the competitive standard and enriched the athletic experience for thousands of runners across the entire state of South Carolina.
Jack LeGrand
(Chapin)
Inducted September 10, 2005
Jack LeGrand was the head coach at Chapin High School for 38 years and a former past vice president of the SCTCCCA and a Shrine Bowl coach. Jack’s teams have consistently performed at the highest levels, capturing 5 State Championships (4 for the girls' team, 1 for the boys' team across the AA and AAA classifications) and finishing as the state runner-up 6 times (3 times for the boys, 3 times for the girls). His boys and girls teams captured 15 region championships which earned Jack 14 Region Coach of the Year honors. He also earned him State Coach of the Year honors 4 times in Class AA, once in Class AAA, along with being named a two-time State girls cross-country Coach of the Year and a one-time State boys cross-country Coach of the Year. In addition to leading his own athletes, LeGrand has dedicated himself to the running community at large, serving as a host for 15 Midstate and Lower State cross-country qualifiers, and as a co-host of the Lake Murray Cross-Country Invitational.
Photo credit: coladailey.com
Kathryn Lempesis
(Spring Valley/Ridge View/Lexington)
Inducted September 10, 2005
SCACA Hall of Fame 2025
Kathryn has excelled as a road-running competitor and as a high school coach and has campaigned for gender equity in the teaching-coaching ranks. She has an exceptional 24-year career in Girls Cross Country and Track & Field. From 1978 to 1997, she led teams at Richland Northeast High School, Spring Valley High School, and Ridge View High School to 16 state championships. In 2005, she coached at Dutch Fork High School, where her track team rose from 21st to 5th place by 2008. From 2009-2013, she coached at Lexington High School, securing the school's first girls cross country state title. As a runner she finished eighth in the 1992 Masters Division of the Boston Marathon and earned a No. 7 world ranking by Runners World Magazine. She was inducted into the Road Runners Hall of Fame and the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 1993 and the SC Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2025. Coach Lempesis coached the 2001 and the 2007 individual girls State Champion.
Herbert Glaze
(Beaufort)
Inducted March 25, 2006
SCACA Hall of Fame 2006
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 25, 2006, Coach Herbert Nathaniel Glaze has been a beloved and defining figure at Beaufort High School since he first stepped onto the campus as a science teacher in 1972. Asked to start the school's girls track and field program in 1976, Coach Glaze spent the next four and a half decades building a legendary dynasty guided by his personal creed: "Pride and respect yields success". Under his exceptional leadership, the Eagles captured ten state championship titles, two state runner-up finishes, and 28 region championships. His incredible impact is measured not just in his back-to-back SC Coach of the Year honors (2002 and 2015), but in the dozens of student-athletes he helped guide toward full college scholarships. Deeply revered both as a mentor and an active community leader in Beaufort County, Coach Glaze's legacy is permanently cemented in South Carolina track history—a dedication honored by the naming of the 100m High Hurdles event after him at the Coaches Classic, and the official naming of the Herbert Nathaniel Glaze Track at Beaufort High.
Photo credit: The Beaufort Lifestyle
Photo credit: The State Newspaper
Kenneth Sandiford
(CA Johnson)
Inducted March 25, 2006
​Deceased (January 9, 2013)
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 25, 2006, Coach Kenneth Fitzroy Sandiford built a legendary track and field powerhouse during his 13-year tenure at C.A. Johnson High School. Under his exceptional guidance, the Green Hornets dominated the state, capturing eight Upper State titles and eight State Championships, highlighted by a historic third-place finish in the high school division at the 1960 Penn Relays. A versatile and deeply respected mentor who also coached boxing and wrestling, Sandiford went on to make a profound collegiate impact, coaching at Allen University before serving for 17 years as the athletic director, track, and soccer coach at Voorhees College (where he was posthumously inducted into their inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024). His enduring legacy in South Carolina athletics is immortalized at the annual SCTCCCA Coaches Classic, where the girls' long jump event is proudly named in his honor.
Calvin Hudgins
(Northwestern)
Inducted September 9, 2006
SCACA Hall of Fame 2026
Calvin began his coaching career in 1983 at Great Falls High and has coached at Clover, Rock Hill and most notably at Northwestern High beginning in 1993. His Northwestern Girl’s track team won the 2003 and 2004 State Championships as well as the 2004 and 2005 Boys State Cross Country Championships. During his tenure at Northwestern he coached over 40 track and field athletes to individual titles. Calvin is a four-time South Carolina Track & Field Coach of the Year, 2006 inductee into the South Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2014 USTFCCCA Boys & Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year, 2023 inductee into the Northwestern High School Hall of Fame and a 2026 SCACA Hall of Fame inductee.
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Photo credit: The Orangeburg Times and Democrat
Hercules Salley
(Orangeburg-Wilkinson)
Inducted March 24, 2007
SCACA Hall of Fame 2017
Hercules Salley was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2007. He served as the head Track Coach at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School for 26 years where his teams earned a dual meet record of 239-19. His teams also won 4 State Championships as well as 12 Region titles. Hercules is the co-founder of the Orangeburg Track Club which competed in many National Junior Olympic Meets. Hercules served the organization as the director for the Coaches Classic Qualifying Meets as well as many Region Championship meets. He also directed the Bruin Invitational.
Steve Wilson
(Summerville)
Inducted March 24, 2007
Steve M. Wilson’s coaching career spans over 24 years, during which he amassed an overall dual meet record of 217-51 while leading programs at Timmonsville, York, Socastee, and Summerville High Schools. At Summerville he built a program that achieved 10 Region Championships and 10 Top 10 state finishes—highlighted by two State Championships (1994, 2001) and a State Runner-Up finish (2002). He earned recognition as a 2-Time South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year, a 3-Time SCTCCCA AAAA Boys Coach of the Year, and a 10-Time Region Coach of the Year. Steve led the development of 48 All-State selections, 14 Individual State Champions, 27 college scholarship recipients, and the 1994 Gatorade Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year, John McMillian. He served as President of the SCTCCCA from 2000–2002 and helped implement the association's Hall of Fame in 2001. Steve founded the prestigious Outback Steakhouse/Azalea Track & Field Invitational as well as hosted the first Coaches Classic Meet while at Socastee.
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Jack Van Deman
(Cheraw)
Inducted September 15, 2007
Deceased (February 6, 2026)
John F. "Jack" Van Deman is a founding member of the SCTCCA and dedicated decades to building programs and mentoring championship athletes at both Chesterfield and Cheraw High Schools. Beginning his career at Chesterfield in 1972, he established Chesterfield County's very first Cross Country program as well as its first girls' track and cross country teams. A certified National USATF Official, Jack also founded the Chesterfield Track Club and the Cheraw Striders Track Club to foster youth athletics. Throughout his distinguished career, he guided numerous individual state champions while amassing multiple Region Coach of the Year honors.
Ron Sullivan
(Ninety-Six/
Belton Honea-Path/Daniel)
Inducted September 15, 2007
Ron Sullivan has coached track and cross country at Ninety-Six High (76-87), Belton Honea Path (97-97), Newberry (97-98) and Daniel (98-06). During this time he has amassed thirty-eight Region titles and nine State Runner-ups. Ron’s teams have also won eight State Championships – one at Daniel in boys Cross Country, two at Ninety-Six in girls track, one at Daniel in girls track, two at Belton-Honea Path in girls Cross Country and two at Daniel in girls Cross Country. Ron earned 36 Region Coach of the Year awards, SCTCCCA Coach of the Year awards ten times and SCACA Coach of the Year three times. Ron served the association in three terms as vice-president and as an assistant and head coach for the Shrine Bowl Run. Ron is always available to officiate in the field events at any meet. Ron was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Photo credit: Greenwood Index-Journal
Cheryl Browning
(Ninety-Six)
Inducted March 22, 2008
SCACA Hall of Fame 1995
Cheryl Browning is an award-winning coach in three sports. She started the Volleyball, girls track and softball as well as coached basketball at Ninety-Six High School. She coached from 1976 to 1983 and in those eight years she won eight consecutive Region Championships, as well as the 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1983 State Championships. Her team was also runner-up in 1981 and 1982. Coach Browning was named Track Coach of the Year in 1979 and the District Three Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association twice. She was inducted into the SCACA Hall of Fame in 1995 and the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2008.
Tom Jordan
(Seneca)
Inducted March 22, 2008
Tom Jordan has over 50 years years of coaching experience in Georgia and South Carolina. While at Johnson County High School in Georgia, Tom won three Region titles, won three state runners-up and 2 State Track Championships. At West Oak, Tom served eight years as the head track coach and won three Region Titles. In 1994, Tom became a coach at Seneca where they have won seven Region Track titles and 5 State Track Championships. Coach Jordan continues to work with Seneca Track and Field and in his entire time with the program they have won 12 state championships between boys and girls. Tom is still an active athlete, competing in many Masters Track and Field Meets mainly in the High Jump and Pole Vault in which he was the 1966 State High School Champion as a student at Belton-Honea Path High. Tom has been named as an All-American athlete many times over his athletic career.
Photo credit: The Washington Post
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Danny Brooks
(Dreher)
Inducted September 13, 2008
Danny Brooks began his coaching career serving as head track & field coach at Dreher High for 33 years, where he won eight state championships. At Dreher, Danny built a dominant program, producing more than 180 individual state champions and a reputation for excellence that earned him nine SCTCCCA Coach of the Year awards as well as numerous Region Coach of the Year awards. Danny has coached 17 national champions and 73 All-Americans during his career. He was a finalist for the NFHS National Coach of the Year in 2004 and inducted into the South Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008. Danny is very active in community service. From 2017 to 2023, Brooks served as associate commissioner for the South Carolina High School League, overseeing the state’s high school track and field programs.
Rick Zeller
(Wade Hampton)
Inducted September 12, 2009
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2009, Coach Rick Zeller built a cross country and track powerhouse at Wade Hampton High School, where he spent over three decades as a dedicated educator and coach. Under his guidance, the Generals captured six state cross country championships—including a dominant streak of five consecutive Class AAA state titles from 1999 to 2003—alongside five state runner-up finishes. Known for his incredible dual-meet record (surpassing 500 wins on the boys' side alone), Coach Zeller developed over 50 All-State runners and multiple individual state champions in both cross country and track. His extensive honors include being named the SCTCCCA Class AAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year six times, the SCACA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year twice, and serving as the 2002 Shrine Bowl Run head coach. Deeply committed to fostering a family environment, Coach Zeller's true legacy lies in his lifelong philosophy of mentoring his athletes to be "good people first, and good athletes next".
Photo credit: SC Milesplit
Photo credit: www.wspa.com
Glover Smiley
(Spartanburg)
Inducted March 27, 2010
Deceased (September 18, 2022)
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010, Coach Glover L. Smiley, Jr. was a historic trailblazer and legendary leader of the Spartanburg High School track and field program. Serving as head coach from 1993 to 2018, he made history as the first Black head coach of any varsity sports program at Spartanburg High and went on to compile an astronomical career record of 807–58. Beyond the raw numbers, Coach Smiley was a developer of elite, world-class talent, mentoring 45 All-Americans and five national champions. Famously even-keeled, he coached with a calm, steady guidance that never wavered with the highs of victory or the lows of defeat. Following his passing in September 2022, his monumental impact on the Spartanburg community was permanently honored in 2023 with the dedication of the Glover L. Smiley, Jr. Track & Field Complex at Viking Stadium, alongside the naming of the annual Glover Smiley Track Classic in his honor.
Shay Rice
(Spartanburg)
Inducted March 27, 2010
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010, Dr. Shay Rice built one of the most dominant eras in South Carolina girls' track and field history during her tenure at Spartanburg High School. Serving as the head coach of the Lady Vikings track team from 1994 to 2008, Coach Rice led her athletes to an astounding six state championships, including a historic victory at the 2006 Class AAAA State Track Championship that earned her Coach of the Year honors. Under her guidance, Spartanburg High established a culture of absolute excellence, capturing 17 consecutive county championships and 15 consecutive region titles. Her profound influence on the sport is honored annually at the Glover Smiley Track Classic with the running of the "Shay Rice Girls 4x100 Meter Relay". Dr. Rice continues to serve as an indispensable pillar of the Spartanburg High School community, transitioning her leadership from the track to the front office as a dedicated Assistant Principal.
Photo credit: Spartanburg 7 School District
Photo credit: Greenwood Index-Journal
Zeke Goode
(Emerald/Ninety-Six)
Inducted March 27, 2010
Zeke excelled in track and field as an athlete at Ninety-Six High School and after graduation, returned to his alma mater to build a powerhouse track program. He guided his team to four consecutive Boy’s State Championships as well as four boys’ and four Girls’ Region titles. His girls team finished as State Runner-up in 1989. Zeke then became the Emerald head boys and girls track coach where he saw his girls team win three state titles and five State Runners-up. Zeke was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2010.
Stephen "Skip" Frye
(Broome)
Inducted September 11, 2010
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on September 11, 2010, Coach Steven "Skip" Frye is a legendary figure in Spartanburg County athletics who dedicated decades to the cross country and track and field programs at Broome High School. Under his expert guidance, the Centurions experienced historic success, most notably highlighted by the Lady Centurions capturing their first-ever Class A/AA State Cross Country Championship title in 2005. A former multi-sport standout and Hall of Fame athlete at USC Upstate, Coach Frye seamlessly translated his athletic prowess into teaching and coaching, earning numerous high school Coach of the Year honors along the way. His profound, lifelong impact on the school and its community was permanently honored by Spartanburg School District 3 with the naming of the Skip Frye Track at Royal Stadium.
Photo credit: Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Mark Bedenbaugh
(Pelion)
Inducted March 26, 2011
SCACA Hall of Fame 2019
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 26, 2011, Coach Mark Bedenbaugh is the founding architect and long-time leader of the cross country and track and field programs at Pelion High School. After starting the cross country program in 1986, Coach Bedenbaugh spent over three decades building the Panthers into a highly respected state powerhouse. Under his expert guidance, Pelion captured two state team championships and numerous conference crowns, while producing over 30 individual state champions. His outstanding leadership earned him State High School Coach of the Year honors in 1992, 1995, and 2001. A highly decorated runner himself during his collegiate career at Francis Marion University (where he is also a member of the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame), Bedenbaugh has dedicated his life to the South Carolina running community as a USATF certified official, camp director, and local race coordinator. His legacy at Pelion is defined by his passion for establishing a positive team culture, teaching his athletes to fully embrace the identity of being a runner, and mentoring generations of student-athletes.
Whiteford "Whitey" Smith
(Gaffney)
Inducted March 26, 2011
Deceased (May 11, 1992)
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2004, Coach Whiteford Smith was the legendary, foundational architect of the track and field and cross country programs at Gaffney High School. Over a highly distinguished career spanning multiple decades, Coach Smith built the Indians into a prominent state power, coaching with a masterclass blend of discipline, technical precision, and deep care for his student-athletes. His exceptional leadership of the Gaffney program yielded numerous region titles, individual state champions, and a lasting standard of excellence that elevated the profile of track and field in upstate South Carolina. To honor his profound, multi-generational impact on the school and the sport, the track facility at Gaffney High School was officially named the Whiteford Smith Track in his honor.
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Rodney Adamee
(Christ Church)
Inducted September 10, 2011
Rodney Adamee coached at Christ Church Episcopal High School from 1992 until 2010. During his tenure he won seven State Championships in Cross Country, three in the boys and 4 in the girls, competing in three different classifications. He also had four runner-up titles. Rodney served as vice-president for the SCTCCCA for five years. He was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2011.
Mike Steward
(Lower Richland)
Inducted March 24, 2012
Mike Steward began his coaching career at Benedict College where he was very successful, winning the NAIA District 6 Championships seven times and runner-up twice. He was named the EIAC Track Coach of the Year five times and Benedict College inducted Mike into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. He started coaching at Lower Richland in 1989. He has won two boys State Championships, one girls State Championship and one girls runner-up. In 2009, Mike was honored as the SCTCCCA 3A Track Coach of the Year, the SCACA Boys Track Coach of the Year and the NFHS Coaches Association State Coach of the Year. He has served as secretary/treasurer of the SCTCCCA as well as the vice-president from 2011-2012. Lower Richland, under Mike’s direction has hosted many SCHSL State Championships. Mike was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2012.
Photo credit: Richland School District 1
Rick Crumpler
(Spring Valley)
Inducted March 26, 2011
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 24, 2012, Coach Rick Crumpler was the relentless, driving force and master architect behind the rise of Spring Valley High School's track and field powerhouse. Over decades of dedicated service, Crumpler worked hand-in-hand with head coach John Jones to build the Vikings into multi-time state champions. He was highly respected across the state for his work ethic and was previously recognized as the SCTCCCA Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year. Beyond helping secure numerous state titles, Coach Crumpler’s most enduring legacy is his role as the co-founder of the prestigious All American Track Classic (formerly the Taco Bell/Bojangles’ Classic). In the meet's early days, he worked alongside Jones to physically construct runway facilities, hand-craft throwing markers out of plywood, and manage the logistics of the event, laying the foundation for what grew into one of the premier high school track meets in the nation.
Sammy Way
(Sumter)
Inducted March 30, 2013
A legendary figure who laid the foundation for one of the most dominant track and field dynasties in South Carolina history, Coach Sammy Way is a cornerstone of the Sumter High School athletic legacy. A pioneer of the sport, Coach Way served as the SCTCCCA Association Secretary from 1982 to 1984 and engineered an era of unparalleled excellence for the Gamecocks, leading the boys' track program to Class AAAA State Championships in 1981, 1983, and 1985. Under his leadership, Sumter became a model of competitive perfection, famously achieving a historic decade-long streak without losing a single dual meet. Renowned for his meticulous coaching, competitive drive, and dedication to his runners, Coach Way’s influence stretched far beyond his own tenure, setting the gold standard for his successors and mentoring generations of young athletes. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame and still honored today at the annual Bob Jenkins Coaches Classic with the running of the Sammy Way Boys' 800-Meter Run, his legacy as a mentor, champion, and dedicated historian remains deeply woven into the fabric of Palmetto State athletics.
Photo credit: the Sumter Daily Item
Jim Crawford
(Crescent)
Inducted September 8, 2012
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2012, Coach Jim Crawford is the revered founding father of the running programs at Crescent High School, where he dedicated an incredible 40 years of service to his student-athletes. As the visionary behind the school's athletic expansion, Coach Crawford single-handedly established both the Crescent cross country program and the girls' track and field team. His exceptional tenure was highlighted by leading the Tigers to a Class AA Boys' Cross Country State Championship in 1993, earning him State Coach of the Year honors. A member of both the SCTCCCA and Crescent High School Halls of Fame, his massive impact on generations of runners in Iva, South Carolina, is permanently celebrated each year with the hosting of the Jim Crawford Invitational at Crescent High.
Carl Baker
(Sumter)
Inducted May 11, 2013
Carl began coaching at Choppee High School in Georgetown in the mid‑1970s. There, he led the boys’ track team to two 2A state titles and was named 2A Coach of the Year in one season. In 1977, Baker returned to his hometown to coach at Sumter High School, where he remained until the 2005–06 school year. Over his tenure worked closely with head track coaches and SCTCCCA Hall-of-Fame members, Sammy Way and Rutledge Dingle. As the girls’ track coach, he never won a state title but led the Lady Gamecocks to three runner‑up finishes and in 2000, led the Sumter girls’ track team to their first Region Championship. In later years, he shared head coaching duties for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. Carl’s contributions to Sumter High’s track program earned him a place in the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. He was also inducted into the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.
Photo credit: The Greenville News
George R Moss
(JL Mann)
Inducted May 22, 2013
SCACA Hall of Fame 2023
Under George Moss’s leadership, the Lady Patriots of JL Mann girls’ track team became a powerhouse in South Carolina high school athletics. The program produced 11 state titles including six straight from 2005 to 2010. He also won two boys’ state championships. J.L. Mann also won 15 Greenville County track and field championships during his tenure. George was honored 12 times as State Coach of the Year for his work. In 2013, Moss was inducted into the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (SCTCCCA) Hall of Fame, a testament to his impact on the sport in the state.
Steve Mullinax
(Fort Mill)
Inducted May 11, 2013
A true cornerstone of South Carolina distance running and track & field, Coach Steve Mullinax built a legacy of excellence that transformed Fort Mill High School into a perennial state powerhouse. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2011, Coach Mullinax’s distinguished career was defined by his incredible ability to develop championship-caliber programs, guiding the Yellow Jackets to multiple state titles in both cross country and track & field. Beyond the impressive trophy cases and state rings, his true impact lay in his coaching philosophy—he believed in fostering a tight-knit, family-like culture that demanded discipline, celebrated character, and inspired everyday student-athletes to achieve extraordinary heights. Coach Mullinax’s dedication to his athletes and the sport of running left an indelible mark on York County and continues to serve as a blueprint for coaching excellence across the Palmetto State.
Skeet Keyes
(SC School for the Deaf and Blind)
Inducted September 14, 2013
Skeet Keyes began his head coaching tenure at Thornwell High School (1985–2007), where he built a track & field powerhouse, capturing six SCISA State Championships for the girls' team (1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992) and five for the boys' team (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992), alongside multiple Region I Class A titles. His dominance extended to cross country, where he led the Thornwell girls' team to 11 Laurens County Championships between 1996 and 2007, and engineered a remarkable 37-consecutive home winning streak in track & field from 2005 to 2007. Transitioning to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) in 2007, Keyes achieved national prominence, guiding the girls' track team to a National Deaf Championship in 2010, a runner-up finish in 2011, and third place in 2009, while coaching the boys to a fourth-place national finish in 2010. Notably, his 2011 SCSDB girls’ relay team won the Class A State Championship in 50.66 seconds—a world-best time for a high school deaf team since 2000.
Keyes coached three different athletes to six state pole vault titles, including a state record in 2003 and a USA Deaf Track & Field national record 2009. He also mentored who was named the USA Deaf Track & Field Female Athlete of the Year in 2011. He organized and coached the first cross country team at Wade Hampton (Greenville) in 1974, helped establish the first cross country team at Presbyterian College in 1987, served as a graduate assistant at USC (1981–1984), staged the Thornwell XC Stampede, helped establish the Clinton cross country program, and has served as a high jump, pole vault, and meet official at State Championships since 1977.
Albert Wallace III
(Beaufort)
Inducted March 29, 2014
A legendary figure in Lowcountry athletics, Coach Albert Wallace established a standard of championship excellence at Beaufort High School that resonated across South Carolina. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2009, Coach Wallace's career was defined by his unwavering dedication to his athletes and his masterful leadership of the Eagles' track and field program. Under his guidance, Beaufort became a dominant statewide force, capturing multiple state championships and producing a steady stream of individual state champions and collegiate competitors. Beyond the medals and titles, Coach Wallace was a mentor of the highest order—instilling values of integrity, resilience, and hard work in generations of young men and women. His profound impact on the Beaufort community and his lasting legacy in South Carolina track and field continue to inspire coaches and athletes across the Palmetto State.
Photo credit: GoUpstate.com
Russell Mahaffey
(Landrum/Woodruff)
Inducted March 29, 2014
A championship-winning coach and respected administrative leader, Russell "Russ" Mahaffey built a legacy of excellence across Spartanburg County that earned him induction into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2014. Best known for orchestrating the rise of Landrum High School's track and field program, Coach Mahaffey led the Cardinals to a Class A State Championship in 2011, along with multiple state runner-up finishes and Region Coach of the Year honors. Following his highly successful tenure at Landrum, he brought his wealth of expertise, competitive drive, and dedication to Woodruff High School. Known as a versatile, multi-sport mentor who coached both football and track, Coach Mahaffey was celebrated not just for his tactical acumen, but for his gift for developing character, resilience, and pride in his athletes. His profound commitment to student-athlete success on and off the track remains a standard of excellence for both the Woodruff and Landrum communities.
Bailey Harris
(Lexington)
Inducted September 13, 2014
Bailey spent 32 seasons at Lexington High School, serving as head coach for multiple sports. In Boys Cross Country his teams won four Class 4A state titles (2009–2012), including four individual State Champs. He also won and 19 region titles. He also
served as the Girl’s Cross Country Coach for eight seasons. Bailey also excelled as one of the winningest boys’ basketball coaches in South Carolina history, winning two 4A State Championships. He was inducted into the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2013 and South Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
Photo credit: The State Newspaper
Photo credit: Greenville County Schools
Eric Cummings
(Byrnes/Riverside)
Inducted September 13. 2014
Deceased (September 22, 2020)
Eric Cummings coached at JF Byrnes High School from 1997-2001, Where his boys team won the 4A State Title in 2000 and 2001. After a stint at Spartanburg Methodist College, Eric returned to the high school competition at Riverside High, where he served as the coach from 2006 until 2020. His boys team won the 2014 and 2016 State Championships and his girls five straight from 2014 through 2017. In track his athletes also were individual State Champions six times. Eric was named Region Coach of the year seventeen times, SCTCCCA Coach of the Year four times and SCACA Coach of the Year twice. His success makes Riverside the winningest school in State Meet history. Eric served as President of the SCTCCCA from 2012 through 2014 and again from 2016 through 2018. He also served as vice-president and treasurer for the SCTCCCA.
Jeff Buys
(Ridge View/Dorman)
Inducted March 28, 2015
A transformative force in South Carolina cross country and track and field, Coach Jeff Buys has built a career marked by relentless consistency, administrative leadership, and championship pedigree. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2015, Coach Buys’s influence spans multiple programs and decades, beginning with his early successes at Ridge View High School—where he also served as the 2005 Shrine Bowl Head Coach—and culminating in a historic tenure at Dorman High School. Under his leadership, the Dorman Cavaliers became a standard-bearer for distance running in the Palmetto State, capturing numerous Class 5A state championship titles, including a dominant run of consecutive state crowns. His peers recognized this sustained dominance by naming him the "Boys Coach of the Decade" for the 2010s. Off the track, Coach Buys has been a vital advocate for the sport, dedicating decades of service to the SCTCCCA as a vice president, board member, and longtime communications director. Known for his meticulous preparation and his passion for mentoring young athletes to achieve their absolute best, Coach Buys has left an indelible mark on the running community across South Carolina.
Photo credit: Dorman High School
Joseph Pickney
(JL Mann/Riverside)
Inducted March 28, 2015
Deceased (February 5, 2017)
A towering figure in upstate track and field, Coach Joseph Pinckney established a legacy of athletic excellence and character development that transformed J.L. Mann High School into a premier South Carolina powerhouse. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2011, Coach Pinckney’s historic tenure was marked by an extraordinary run of success, leading the Patriots' boys and girls programs to multiple state championship titles and region crowns. Known for his technical mastery across sprints, hurdles, and relays, he had a unique gift for identifying raw talent and molding student-athletes into state champions and collegiate competitors. More than just a highly decorated coach, Coach Pinckney was a dedicated educator, father figure, and pillar of the Greenville community who used the track as a classroom to teach discipline, accountability, and self-belief. His decades of service and deep investment in the youth of South Carolina have left a permanent, inspiring mark on the J.L. Mann community and the legacy of the Palmetto State's track and field history.
Dan Shonka
(Liberty/Daniel)
Inducted September 12, 2015
A dedicated educator and influential leader in Upstate distance running, Coach Dan Shonka built a highly respected career defined by his service to his athletes and the sport. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2015, Coach Shonka’s coaching legacy is deeply rooted in his highly successful tenures at both Liberty High School and D.W. Daniel High School. His passion for the running community extended far beyond his own teams; he served as a dedicated leader for the SCTCCCA, representing his programs as an association Vice President during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Coach Shonka’s commitment to South Carolina's elite distance runners was further highlighted when he was selected as the head coach for the prestigious Shrine Bowl Run in 1999. Beloved as both a classroom history teacher and a mentor on the track and trails, Coach Shonka spent over three decades inspiring young athletes to pursue excellence, leaving a lasting impact on the sport that continues to be felt across the Palmetto State.
Photo credit: The Greenville News
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
David Smith
(Blue Ridge/Greer Middle College)
Inducted September 12, 2015
SCACA Hall of Fame 2025
A legendary figure in South Carolina distance running and track & field, Coach David Smith has spent over four decades building championship cultures and mentoring young athletes across the Palmetto State. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2015, Coach Smith's incredible career has spanned several respected programs—including J.L. Mann, Greer, Hillcrest, Blue Ridge, and Walhalla—before finding a long-term home at Greer Middle College Charter High School (GMC). At GMC, his leadership transformed the Blazers into an absolute juggernaut, guiding the program to six boys' cross country state championships, three girls' cross country state titles, and two boys' track & field state titles. Renowned for his relationship-driven coaching philosophy and tactical excellence, he was honored as the 2023 Cross Country Coach of the Year by both the SCTCCCA and the USTFCCCA, and served as the Head Coach for the prestigious Shrine Bowl Run in 2016. Coach Smith’s enduring passion for his runners and his peerless contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark on South Carolina’s athletic landscape.
Charlie Poole
(McBee/Lamar)
Inducted March 26, 2016
A legendary, championship-winning figure in South Carolina high school athletics, Coach Charlie Poole has spent decades molding elite track and field programs in the Palmetto State. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2016, Coach Poole’s career is defined by historic runs of dominance, most notably at Lamar High School, where he guided the Silver Foxes' boys' track and field program to an unprecedented streak of eight consecutive Class A State Championships from 1999 to 2006. A highly respected leader who also served as a championship-winning head football coach, he later brought his wealth of competitive drive, tactical expertise, and high standards to McBee High School, leading the Panthers to a Class A State Track and Field Championship in 2015. Beyond his impressive collection of state championship rings and Region Coach of the Year honors, Coach Poole is revered for his relational approach to coaching, his gift for building discipline and self-belief in his athletes, and his tireless commitment to the community. His profound, lasting impact at both Lamar and McBee remains a gold standard of athletic and character development in South Carolina.
Photo credit: The State Newspaper
Steve Robinson
(Sumter)
Inducted March 25, 2017
Deceased (May 15, 2003)
A legendary figure in South Carolina track and field, Coach Steve Robinson engineered a historic era of dominance that cemented Sumter High School as a premier state powerhouse. Inducted posthumously into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2017, Coach Robinson’s impact on the sport was profound and far-reaching. As an assistant coach, his technical expertise in horizontal jumps was vital to the program's success during the 1990s. When he took the reins as head coach, he guided the Gamecocks to consecutive Class AAAA State Championships in 1999 and 2000. Coach Robinson had a rare gift for refining raw athletic talent, famously mentoring Olympic triple jumper Nicole Gamble, who credited his guidance as foundational to her historic career. Beyond his competitive triumphs, he was a dedicated servant to the sport, advocating for student-athletes and serving as an SCTCCCA officer during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Though he passed away in 2003, Coach Robinson's legacy of elite athletic development, selfless leadership, and genuine care for his athletes continues to shine brightly in Sumter and throughout the Palmetto State.
Wayne Farmer
(Scotts Branch)
Inducted March 25, 2017
A legendary, multi-sport leader with an extraordinary gift for building championship cultures, Coach Wayne Farmer has spent more than three decades shaping the landscape of South Carolina high school athletics. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2017, Coach Farmer’s career is defined by historic runs of dominance across multiple programs, including Elloree, Allendale-Fairfax, Denmark-Olar, Scott’s Branch, and Calhoun County. A master of program building, he achieved the rare feat of leading three different programs—Allendale-Fairfax, Scott’s Branch, and Calhoun County—to back-to-back Class A State Championship track and field titles, amassing 10 team state track titles overall. Beyond his incredible track and field resume, Coach Farmer has also been a highly successful athletic director and head football coach with over 150 career victories. Known for his high standards, competitive drive, and unwavering belief in his student-athletes, Coach Farmer's enduring legacy of mentoring young men and women to reach their full potential on the track and on the field remains a standard of excellence across the Palmetto State.
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Bennie Isaac
(Dreher)
Inducted March 24, 2018
Deceased (February 19, 2021)
A beloved coach, master technique specialist, and cornerstone of Columbia-area track and field, Coach Bennie Isaac dedicated his life to unlocking the greatness within young athletes. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2018, Coach Isaac’s career was defined by his extraordinary impact as an elite assistant coach for Dreher High School. Alongside Hall of Fame head coach Daniel Brooks, he helped build the Blue Devils into an absolute juggernaut, guiding both the girls' and boys' programs to multiple Class AAA state championship titles. Recognized statewide for his coaching brilliance, he was named the SCTCCCA Assistant Track Coach of the Year and co-founded the Jump Start training club, where he mentored and developed some of the state's most elite sprint and jump talents. Though he sadly passed away in 2021, Coach Isaac’s legacy of warmth, infectious passion, and unwavering belief in his athletes continues to shape the track and field community across the Palmetto State.
Doug Purinton
(Broome)
Inducted March 24, 2018
A dedicated educator and a master technician of the throws, Coach Doug Purinton has been a cornerstone of Broome High School’s track and field program for decades. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2018, Coach Purinton’s legacy is built on his exceptional work as an elite assistant coach specializing in shot put, discus, and javelin. His deep technical expertise, coupled with a rare ability to analyze form and build confidence, has guided numerous Centurions to individual state qualifications, podium finishes, and collegiate opportunities. In the classroom, his commitment to student success is just as profound—serving as a beloved science and engineering teacher who inspires students daily. Coach Purinton's enduring passion for mentorship, quiet leadership, and decades of selfless service have made him a highly respected figure among South Carolina coaches and a true pillar of the Broome High School community.
Photo credit: Fosters Daily Democrat
Photo credit: The Greenville News
Frank Kleckner
(Southside Christian)
Inducted March 24, 2018
Deceased (May 24, 2017)
A deeply beloved coach, dedicated math educator, and selfless servant to the running community, Coach Frank Kleckner left an unforgettable legacy at Southside Christian School. Inducted posthumously into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on March 24, 2018, Coach Kleckner led the Sabres' track and field program to multiple state championships. His coaching brilliance earned him Track Coach of the Year honors for four consecutive years, State Coach of the Year, and national recognition as a State Coach of the Year. Yet, his true impact was measured by his immense heart; known for always volunteering to work meets and stepping in wherever there was a need, Coach Kleckner treated every athlete—including visiting competitors—with profound kindness and encouragement. Following his tragic passing in 2017, his memory continues to be honored annually through Southside Christian’s Frank Kleckner Invitational. "Coach K" remains a shining example of how sports can bring people together, and his legacy of joy, faith, and mentorship continues to inspire the Palmetto State's track and field community.
Kwabene "KB" Brown
(Westside)
Inducted March 27, 2019
Widely recognized as one of the premier hurdle coaches in the nation, Coach Kwabene "K.B." Brown has spent decades shaping elite athletic talent and fostering a legacy of championship performance. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2019, Coach Brown’s remarkable career is highlighted by his tenure at Westside High School, where he began coaching in 1998. A former track and field letterman at Clemson University, he returned to his roots to build a legendary coaching resume. Under his elite guidance, Coach Brown has produced 34 National Champions, 42 Outdoor All-Americans, 17 Region Champions, and more than a dozen individual State Champions, while helping secure 15 region team titles. In addition to his high school successes, his extensive work with the Quick Striders track club has further solidified his reputation as a master technician of sprints and hurdles. Known for his incredible resilience, deep knowledge of the sport, and absolute dedication to the success of his athletes on and off the track, Coach Brown's contributions to the Palmetto State's track and field landscape remain truly historic.
Photo credit: Facebook
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Ricky Griddine
(Lower Richland)
Inducted March 27, 2019
A legendary sprint coach and a cornerstone of Richland County athletics, Coach Ricky Griddine established a legacy of speed and championship discipline at Lower Richland High School. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2019, Coach Griddine was highly respected statewide as an elite assistant coach and a master technician of relays, sprints, and hurdles. Alongside fellow Diamond Hornet coaching legends, he helped guide Lower Richland to multiple team state championship titles during the program's most dominant eras. Renowned for his meticulous attention to block starts, handoffs, and running form, he developed a steady pipeline of individual state champions, national qualifiers, and collegiate athletes. Beyond the medals and trophies, Coach Griddine was a dedicated mentor and father figure who demanded high character, academic focus, and mutual respect from every athlete who wore the Diamond Hornet uniform. His decades of selfless service and deep devotion to the youth of Columbia have left an enduring mark on South Carolina track and field history.
Dave Lee
(James Island)
Inducted October 12, 2019
A pillar of the Lowcountry running community and a tireless champion for South Carolina student-athletes, Coach Dave Lee has built an extraordinary legacy of leadership and competitive success at James Island Charter High School. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on October 12, 2019, Coach Lee has established James Island as an absolute powerhouse, guiding the Trojans to multiple girls' cross country state championship titles—including dominating repeat victories—and repeatedly earning State Coach of the Year honors. Yet his impact on the sport extends far beyond his team's impressive trophy case. As a longtime SCTCCCA officer, treasurer, and former association president, Coach Lee has spent decades working behind the scenes to elevate high school track and cross country statewide. This dedication to service is beautifully exemplified by his foundational work with the SCTCCCA Sharonda Singleton Memorial Scholarship, ensuring the sport he loves continues to uplift and support the next generation. Renowned for his organizational excellence, competitive drive, and genuine care for his runners, Coach Lee's legacy remains a guiding light for coaches and athletes across the Palmetto State.
Photo credit: Facebook
Photo credit: Bishop England High School
Tonhy Colizzi
(Bishop England)
Inducted October 9, 2021
Tony Colizzi, of Bishop England, is being inducted this year, but his induction year will read 2020 since we were not able to induct him last year. Tony has been the head track and cross country coach at Bishop England High School for the past 20 years. In that time- Tony has won 17 track and field state championship- 13 with girls and 4 with boys- and 6 cross country state championships- 2 with girls and 4 with boys. He has 3 additional state championships as an assistant. Tony has hosted the Lower State Track Meet for several years, and the Father Kelly Classic for 15 years. He served as Vice President of the SCTCCCA from 2008-2010, and was the Shrine Bowl Head Coach in 2010. Tony has been an exemplar member of the track and cross country community in our state for several years, and we are proud to induct him as the 2020 Inductee into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame.
Marie Kernell
(St Joseph's)
Inducted October 9, 2021
Marie Kernell of St Joseph’s High School is being inducted as the 2021 inductee to the SCTCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame. Marie served as the head girls cross country coach at St Josephs from 2007-2020, and the head track coach from 2012-2015. Her teams won 11 state championships in that time period and 6 region championships. They also won the Greenville County Cross Country Championship in 2009. Marie served as the secretary of the SCTCCCA, and consistently assists with Coaches Classic Cross Country and Track and Field. Marie started track and field at St Joseph’s in 2012. Marie has been a phenomenal addition to our coaching community and to cross country in our state for several years, and we are proud to induct her as the 2021 member of the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Photo credit: MileSplit SC
Steve Phillips
(Johnsonville)
Inducted October 8, 2022
A legendary architect of one of the most dominant dynasties in South Carolina high school sports, Coach Steve "Stevie" Phillips elevated the Johnsonville High School track and field program to historic heights. Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on September 20, 2022, Coach Phillips engineered an era of unparalleled success, leading the Lady Flashes to an astonishing 13 Class A State Championship titles (including a historic run of seven consecutive crowns from 1997 to 2003) and an incredible streak of 28 consecutive region titles. His program was a model of consistency, technical precision, and depth. Beyond his peerless achievements on the track, Coach Phillips was a deeply respected administrator and educator who served Florence County School District Five as a longtime principal, using his platform to cultivate discipline, pride, and community spirit. His legacy as a championship builder and a champion of student-athletes remains a gold standard for coaching excellence in the Palmetto State.
Chris White
(Seneca)
Inducted April 19, 2024
Inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame on April 19, 2024, Dr. Chris White has been a cornerstone of Seneca High School's track and cross country programs since 1999. Over more than two decades, White has coached twelve state championship teams—serving as head coach for six, including the 2018 and 2025 SCHSL boys track and field championship and a dominant run of four consecutive girls state track titles. A dedicated leader both on and off the track, he served as President of the SCTCCCA from 2018 to 2022 and was honored as the prestigious 2023–2024 NFHS National Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year. As president of the SCTCCCA, Coach White helped lead the association through COVID, and helped facilitated the inclusion of javelin in the state meet series as well as the move to 16 athlete in the state meet for track and field.
Larry Clark
(TL Hanna/Easley/
Wren/Crescent)
Inducted April 25, 2025
Larry Clark was inducted into the SCTCCCA Hall of Fame in 2025. He has served as the head track and cross country coach at TL Hanna, Easley, Wren, Crescent, and Powdersville High Schools, and served as the head coach at Southern Wesleyan University for one year. Coach Clark has coached 4 state championship teams in track and field, 2 at TL Hanna and 2 at Wren, as well as State Runner Up Cross Country Team at Wren. In cross country, he has coaches a combined 15 region championship teams and 14 in track and field between boys and girls. He served as the Head Shrine Bowl run Coach in 2025.
Bobby Urban
(Richland Northeast/Dorman)
Inducted July 12, 2026
Coach Urban spent 18 years coaching, 5 at Richland Northeast and 13 at Dorman. He served as the head track and field coach for 7 years, and assistant for 11 years at those schools. He spent 12 years as the head cross country coach between both schools. In that time, his teams won 4 Team State Championships, 2 Boys championships in track and field in 2017 and 2021, and one boys State Championship in cross country (2002) and one for girls (2004). In his time coaching Coach Urban’s teams have won 14 region championships, 12 Spartanburg County Championships, 17 Individual State Championships along with numerous All State and All Region Athletes. Coach Urban has hosted or helped host several invitational and championship events in both track and cross country. He served as the Shrine Bown Run Head Coach in 2004, and designed the new route from the Shriner’s Hospital to Wofford College in Spartanburg. He served as Vice President of the SCTCCCA from 2004-2006, and started the association email list for communication between coaches in 2000. He currently works as a meet announcer for both track and cross country for our state.
