Former SC State standout hired as new Spring Valley football coach

Nygel Pearson’s playing and coaching roots began in South Carolina.

After a stint working in North Carolina, Pearson is returning to the Palmetto State as the new football coach at Spring Valley High School. Pearson’s hire was approved at Tuesday’s Richland 2 school board meeting.

“Coming back to South Carolina is a big plus,” Pearson said Tuesday night. “It is where I played high school and college. And Spring Valley is Spring Valley. I don’t know what else you can say. They have great facilities and are going to have good athletes. I am looking forward to being a part of the tradition.”

The 36-year-old Pearson replaces Robin Bacon, who stepped down in November. The Darlington native has been head coach at North Rowan (NC) for the past three years, going 20-12 and making to the third round of the playoffs in two of the three years.

Before taking the North Rowan job, Pearson was a college assistant coach with stops at South Carolina State from 2011-17 and Catawba College from 2017-20. His first coaching job was an assistant at Fairfield Central High School in 2010.

Pearson played college football at S.C. State and was a second team all-MEAC selection as a senior.

Spring Valley athletic director Jeff DiBattisto said the school received about 45 applications for the job and that Pearson’s experience on the college and high school level stood out the most.

Pearson said he plans to meet with the team on Thursday and is working on being here full-time before spring practice in May. He said he will spend the next several weeks putting a staff together.

Spring Valley went 5-6 this past season and lost in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

The hiring of Pearson gives the Midlands three openings: Columbia, Heathwood Hall and Lexington.

SC High School Football openings

School — Former School — New Coach

Aiken — Olajuwon Paige — TBA Berea — Julius Prince — Drew Chisholm Berkeley — Jerry Brown — TBA Clover — Brian Lane — Perry Woolbright Colleton County — Kris Howell — Adam Kinloch Columbia — Jason Bush — TBA Conway — Carlton Terry — TBA Darlington — Raymond Jennings — Jamie Johnson Dillon Christian — Christian Wolfe — Donell Stanley

Eau Claire — Shaq Hilton — TBA First Baptist — Johnny Waters — Jamaal Birch

Georgetown — Jimmy Noonan — Bradley Adams Great Falls — DeMarcus Simons — TBA Green Sea Floyds — Joey Price — Patrick Martin Hanahan — Art Craig — Milan Turner

Hannah-Pamplico — Jamie Johnson — Trey Woodberry Heathwood Hall — Danny Lewis — TBA Hillcrest — Anthony Frate — TBA Landrum — Jason Farmer — Brent Bridges Lexington — Perry Woolbright — TBA Mauldin — Sayre Nesmith — TBA May River — Rodney Summers — TBA Mullins — John Williams — TBA

North Central — Ryan McDonnell (interim) — TBA North Charleston — Devon Smalls — TBA Orangeburg Prep — Andy Palmer — Don Shelley Palmetto — Doug Shaw — TBA Pickens — Chad Smith — James Reynolds Spring Valley — Robin Bacon — Nygel Pearson Thomas Heyward — Nic Shuford — TBA

Walhalla — Padgett Johnson — Chris Stone Ware Shoals — Chris Johnston — Chris Dodson Westside — Scott Earley — Brian Lane Williamsburg Academy — Don Shelley — Tyler Boyd Woodmont — Jeff Murdock — Ty Sutherland Woodruff — Bradley Adams — Brett Sloan Wren — Jeff Tate — Anthony Frate