PICKENS — Chad Smith, who is set to be the new Pickens High School Football coach, will also be assuming Athletic Director duties next year.
The School District of Pickens County school board approved Smith’s appointment on Monday night.
“I have great confidence in Coach Smith’s abilities both as a leader and as an athletic administrator,” said Corey Willimon, Pickens High School principal. “He shows strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Being football coach and AD is a huge responsibility, but Coach Smith is up to the task.”
“My goal is for Blue Flame athletics to help PHS be the premier high school in the state,” Smith said. “We’re going to work to provide our athletes with the best support system possible and expect excellence across the board. The Blue Flame takes a back seat to no one.”
Stan Butler, who has been AD since 2014, will continue to be the varsity baseball coach and teach physical education at Pickens High School.
“We appreciate the hard work he has done as AD for the past several years, and he’s a huge asset to the school as a teacher and coach,” Willimon said.
Smith holds an M.S.S. in Sports Administration from the U.S. Sports Academy, and a B.S. in Social Studies Education from Concord University. He graduated with honors from Pickens High School in 1997. As a student he was a three-year varsity starter in football and track, a participant in Palmetto Boys State, and the 1997 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Man of the Year at PHS.