Gilbert’s all-time winningest coach is leaving. What’s next for Chad Leaphart

Chad Leaphart’s return to his alma mater was a success. Now, he’s ready for the next phase of career.

Leaphart is stepping down as Gilbert High School’s football coach and will be the new athletic director in Lexington One School District, which includes Gilbert, River Bluff, Lexington, Pelion and White Knoll high schools. He replaces David Bennett, who is retiring at the end of the month.

Leaphart, who also is the school’s atheltic director, informed his Gilbert players of the move at a Wednesday morning meeting. His last coaching duty will come Saturday as an assistant for the South Carolina squad in the Shrine Bowl at Spartanburg High School.

“It is a tough call because I love coaching my guys at Gilbert and I love Gilbert football,” Leaphart told The State. “But this is the right thing to be able to impact more kids in our district and it is a great opportunity moving forward. I’m looking forward to helping all of our kids and athletic directors in Lexington One.”

Leaphart also will have more time to see his son play college football. Gray Leaphart is a tight end at Newberry College.

The Gilbert grad is leaving as the program’s winningest coach. Leaphart went 78-18 in his eight seasons, breaking Marty Woolbright’s 68 wins. Woolbright was Leaphart’s high school head coach at Gilbert.

Under Leaphart, the Indians won four region titles and 10 or more games in a season five times, including this year’s 11-2 record and trip to the Class 3A Lower State semifinals before losing to Camden, 35-28.

“Our guys have nothing to hang their heads about,” Leaphart said after the game. “It was back-and-forth and we had our chances. But I’m not disappointed with our guys with their effort. Just a good high school football game. That is what it is all about.”

Gilbert made the playoffs every year under Leaphart and won at least one playoff game each year.

The Indians made it to the 3A Lower State championship in 2020.

“We far exceeded everything. We won region championships, something that has not been done before,” Leaphart said earlier this season. “We have made deep playoff runs, beat 5A schools, 4A schools. We beat named brand programs like Dillon and Hartsville that a lot of people wouldn’t give us a chance to compete with. I definitely say we have had a good run.”

Before Gilbert, Leaphart went 41-27 at Swansea and led the Tigers to five playoff appearances in six seasons. He also was an assistant coach at Strom Thurmond from 2000-10 and Pelion from 1997-2000.

As Lexington One athletic director, Leaphart will help in the selection process of his successor but doesn’t have the final decision to hire or fire coaches in his new role. He added there are a few assistants on his staff that would make good candidates. The school will post the opening this week and it has to stay open for 15 days.

Leaphart said the school is targeting late January to name his successor.

The new coach will be getting a strong returning group of players, including 1,000-yard running backs Trevon Williamson and Jaylen Jay as well as receiver Krew Morris and safety Wynn Meetze.

Leaphart’s departure gives the Midlands two football openings. Lugoff-Elgin is looking to replace Matt Campbell, who stepped down for a job in the Kershaw School District office.

SC High School Football openings

School — Former Coach — New Coach

Bishop England — John Cantey — TBA

Fort Dorchester — Josh Smith (interim) — Shaun Lorenzano

Gilbert — Chad Leaphart — TBA

Great Falls — Brian Kane — TBA

Heathwood Hall — Rick Reetz — Tymere Zimmerman

Laurens — Darryl Smith — TBA

Lugoff-Elgin — Matt Campbell — TBA

Stall — Benjamin Lailson — Ken Freeman

Scott’s Branch — Randall State — TBA

St. John’s — Mike Howard — TBA

Union County — Brian Thompson — TBA

Wando — Rocco Adrian — TBA

Wilson — Rodney Mooney — TBA