Dillon – It’s getting down to crunch time and new Dillon Christian School football head coach
Donell Stanley is getting excited.
"I’m looking forward to see how things go,” said Stanley, who was also hired as the school’s
athletic director last December. “I’m just pleased with the way the guys have bought in. When we first
started working, I told them this is probably going to be the hardest you’ve ever trained before. They’ve
seen results real fast and that has helped them see what can happen.”
Stanley, the former University of South Carolina offensive lineman who was on a couple of
National Football League rosters, came upon the DCS job quite by accident. He was back home in
Dillon County visiting from Florida in November when a friend told him the job was open. Stanley, who
played at Dillon County’s Latta High School, applied for the job and ended up getting it. This is his first
ever coaching job – as a head coach or assistant at any level.
Stanley, who anticipates having around 23 student-athletes on the varsity roster, will have a 5-
man assistant staff to help him. Ontario McClellan, Duane Nichols Jr. and Charlie White have joined
Stanley at DCS while Landry Collins and Chris Alphin are holdovers from last year’s 1-9 team.
Stanley does have a few months under his belt as the Dillon Christian athletic director. He feels
like things are coming along good in that regard.
“It's been a good learning process,” Stanley said. “I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I’m getting
there.”
He said he has been lucky to have Dee Conn show him the ropes as AD. Another thing that has
helped in his work as athletic director is having a veteran coaching staff. Stanley, in fact, is the only
newcomer.
“Those guys have lots of experience so that helps,” he said. “I don't have too many coaches, but
the ones I have are good. They’ve all bought in to what I’m trying to bring here.”
Tommy Sherman will return as the softball coach after getting Dillon Christian within a game of
playing in the AA state championship series. Collins returns as the baseball coach, Bo Stone is back as
the boys basketball coach, Kelly McColl as the girls basketball coach, Bridgett Ellington as the
volleyball coach and Ryan Sampson as the boys soccer coach.
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