Longtime Chapin football coach stepping down. Here’s what we know

One of the Midlands’ longest-tenured head football coaches is retiring.

Justin Gentry is retiring as Chapin High School’s football coach. Gentry informed his team of the decision on Tuesday morning.

The 52-year-old Gentry has been at Chapin since 2010. Before that, he was head coach at Lake City for six seasons and Williston-Elko for three. In all, he has spent over 30 years as a high school head or assistant coach.

“Unfortunately, I have had to tell a team I was leaving two other times but this was different,” Gentry told The State. “This is it. These kids here, this school and community is special. It was tough looking in their eyes but I reassured I am still here for them. ... I told them I would do anything to help them. I told them I am their coach for life.”

Gentry said he thought about the decision for a long time. At first, he was going retire but still remain as teacher and coach like many do when they reach retirement age. But he said it wasn’t his “DNA” to do that. The topic of retirement came up again on a recent trip he and his wife took to Colorado.

“On our way to airport my wife said this was first time in 29 years we got away together,” Gentry said. “That resonated. Then after spending the week together and talking, I was like, ‘It is time.’”

Gentry led Chapin from a Class 3A school when he arrived to Class 5A, the state’s highest classification. He was the second longest tenured in school history behind Eddie Muldrow (1981-2005).

Gentry won 146 games in his career with almost 90 coming at Chapin. The 2015-16 seasons were his best stretch. Chapin won 22 games during those two years and made it to Class 4A Lower State championship in 2016 before losing to Hartsville.

“We did what everybody told me we couldn’t do and did it on three different platforms (Class 3A, Class 4A and Class 5A),” Gentry said. “I was the third coach here in three years when I was hired, and all of my buddies said you can’t win at Chapin. We came in and won in 3A, 4A and 5A. We defied the odds. I attribute it to our players buying in to everything. I also couldn’t have have been to where I am right now without every assistant coach from the middle school on the way up. These guys are the best in the business. and went above and beyond everything I asked them to do.”

In addition to coaching, Gentry has been an active member with SC Football Coaches Association and been on the board since 2002. He was the head coach of the South squad in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl in 2022.

The Eagles went 6-5 in 2023 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. A search for Gentry’s successor will begin immediately. Chapin begins spring practice next month and will open the season Aug. 23 at Catawba Ridge.

Gentry’s last day is June 30. He said he’ll do whatever is needed to help the transition with the new coach.

Chapin will be the sixth school from the Midlands to have a new head coach next season. Other schools that have filled their openings are Gilbert, Gray Collegiate, Heathwood Hall, Lugoff-Elgin and Swansea.

SC High School Football openings

School — Former Coach — New Coach

Bishop England — John Cantey — Logan Hall

Chapin — Justin Gentry — TBA

Chesnee — Clay Lewis — Brett Chappell

Fort Dorchester — Josh Smith (interim) — Shaun Lorenzano

Gaffney — Dan Jones — TBA (Jones retiring at end of 2024 season)

Gilbert — Chad Leaphart — Ozzie Exume

Gray Collegiate — Adam Holmes — De’Angelo Bryant

Great Falls — Brian Kane — Syvelle Newton

Greenville — Greg Porter — Jaybo Shaw

Heathwood Hall — Rick Reetz — Tymere Zimmerman

Hilton Head Prep — Dustin Etheridge — Doug McFadden

Laurens — Darryl Smith — Greg Porter

Lewisville — Leon Boulware — Trent Usher

Lugoff-Elgin — Matt Campbell — Leon Boulware

Marlboro County — Quinn McCollum — Cory Johnson

Rock Hill — Bubba Pittman — Randy Birch

Stall — Benjamin Lailson — Ken Freeman

Scott’s Branch — Randall State — Patrick Fleming

Silver Bluff — De’Angelo Bryant — Matt Hayes

St. John’s — Mike Howard — TBA

Swansea — Brent Wilder — Willie Fox

Union County — Brian Thompson — Quinnon Isom

Wade Hampton — Travis Miller — Reuben Wright

Wagener-Salley — Willie Fox — Blaze Gillespie

Wando — Rocco Adrian — Isaiah Perrin

Wilson — Rodney Mooney — Glenwood Ferebee