It’s happening: Dustin Curtis returning to Midlands to coach at Lexington

Dustin Curtis is coming home.

The former Lexington High football standout will be the program’s new head football coach and the school’s athletic director. The hire was approved at Tuesday’s Lexington 1 school board meeting.

An introductory press conference is planned for 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

Curtis replaces Perry Woolbright, who left to become the football coach at Clover. Woolbright has started his new job at Clover.

Curtis’ hire should be a popular one with the Lexington community. He is the first former Lexington player to be the school’s head football coach.

“Aside from his impressive coaching record, Coach Curtis has a personal connection and commitment to Lexington High School, and he understands and shares the pride our community takes in our school,” Lexington principal Ryan Pool said in a statement. “He was the perfect fit for our school culture and our athletic program. We are excited to welcome him and his family home.”

Curtis was a member of the Wildcats’ 2000 state championship runner-up team and was a blocking back for former South Carolina signee Demetrius Summers.

Curtis spent the last year as Dorman’s head coach. He announced last week he was resigning his job, fueling speculation that he would likely be the next Lexington coach.

Curtis told The State last week that his plan was to move back to the Midlands for personal reasons. He said a main reason he was leaving Dorman was to come back to the Midlands and be closer to family. His stepfather is battling leukemia, and Curtis said it’s important to be in the area to support his family.

Curtis declined to say whether he had applied or had interviewed for the Lexington job. According to sources familiar with the hiring process, the school conducted interviews with nine prospective candidates, including Curtis.

“All I can say is that Lexington High is a great place and a great community,” Curtis said last week. “Anyone would be fortunate to coach there in any capacity. These things have a process to them. I am going to pursue opportunities that allow me to be closer to my family.”

Before Dorman, Curtis was a head coach in the Midlands at Westwood and A.C. Flora high schools. Curtis went 28-4 in three seasons as Flora’s head coach and led the Falcons to a 2020 Class 4A state championship win over North Myrtle Beach.

It was Flora’s first state championship in football and the first by a Columbia city school since Lower Richland in 1970.

SC High School Football openings

School — Former School — New Coach

Aiken — Olajuwon Paige — Dwayne Garrick

Beaufort Academy — Mark Clifford — Nic Shuford Barnwell — Dwayne Garrick — TBA Berea — Julius Prince — Drew Chisholm Berkeley — Jerry Brown — Eric Lodge Clover — Brian Lane — Perry Woolbright Colleton County — Kris Howell — Adam Kinloch Columbia — Jason Bush — TBA Conway — Carlton Terry — Josh Pierce Darlington — Raymond Jennings — Jamie Johnson Dillon Christian — Christian Wolfe — Donell Stanley

Dorman — Dustin Curtis — TBA Eau Claire — Shaq Hilton — TBA Edisto — Preston Deaver — 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 Lamar — Josh Pierce — TBA Landrum — Jason Farmer — Brent Bridges Lexington — Perry Woolbright — Dustin Curtis Mauldin — Sayre Nesmith — TBA May River — Rodney Summers — Richard Bonneville Mullins — John Williams — TBA

Ninety-Six — Matthew Owings — TBA North Central — Ryan McDonnell (interim) — Daniel Sisk North Charleston — Devon Smalls — TBA Orangeburg Prep — Andy Palmer — Don Shelley Palmetto — Doug Shaw — TBA Pickens — Chad Smith — James Reynolds Pinewood Prep — J.W. Myers — DeVonte Holloman Spring Valley — Robin Bacon — Nygel Pearson Thomas Heyward — Nic Shuford — Tony McGeary

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