Sumter – Bridget Parker Richardson said she had never applied for a high school head
coaching job until she did so when the girls basketball position at Crestwood came open a few months ago.
Now she’s accomplished another first after being selected as the Lady Knights’ new head coach.
“I'm really excited,” said Richardson, who comes to Crestwood after spending two seasons as the
junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant at South Florence. “It still feels like I'm living in a dream
right now. I’ve always wanted to do this. I’m looking forward to becoming a head coach.
“The challenge right now is getting to know the girls. I’m excited about it.”
Crestwood athletic director Terrance Scriven believes Richardson will be a good fit for the
program.
“As with any coaching hire, the No. 1 concern is the student-athlete,” Scriven said. “We feel that
Coach Richardson will bring energy, enthusiasm and discipline to assist our student-athletes and the
program. We are excited for what is to come for our girls basketball program.”
Richardson went to high school at Hannah-Pamplico and graduated from Francis Marion
University in Florence in 1996. She initially didn’t intend to go into coaching, but she had to have a
minor at FMU and chose coaching. She got a job as an assistant at Byrnes Academy in Quinby and got
the coaching bug.
“I got my love back again for basketball,” said Richardson who played the sport in high school
before tearing the anterior cruciate in one knee on two occasions.
Richardson had been the head coach of two middle school girls teams and one boys team before
accepting the position at South Florence.
She takes over a program that has enjoyed tremendous success since it came into being in the
1996-97 school year. The Lady Knights went 20-7 last year and reached the third round of the AAA state
playoffs.
“I think what I have coming back is a good group,” Richardson said. "They are working hard,
working on their skills, listening. I'm very excited about it. I know the program has been successful. The
core of the girls that were there last year have graduated. It's a very young team, no seniors, so 11th -
graders on down. We’re building.”
Richardson said she doesn’t have any one set playing style.
“I think a lot of the style of game it can change from year to year,” she said. “What style of
basketball we will play will depend upon the players that I have.”
The only other newcomer to the coaching staff is Casey Doyle as the volleyball head coach.
However, Scriven is looking for a new softball coach after Donald Flippin stepped down to become
the athletic director at fellow Sumter School District school Lakewood.
Flippin led the Lady Knights to their first state playoff berth since 2010 and they went 11-9 overall.
Aric Samuel is returning after leading the boys basketball program to its first ever state
championship game. The Knights were 23-5 and lost to Wren 56-49 in the AAA championship game.
Roosevelt Nelson will be back for his 10th season as the football head coach. Crestwood went 8-4
last season and reached the second round of the state playoffs. They lost to eventual AAA state champion
Beaufort 45-42 in that contest.
Collin Kremer returns to coach baseball. The father-son duo of Jack Ray and Jonathan Ray will
return as the head coach of the boys and girls soccer programs, respectively. Jack Ray is the only boys
coach in school history. He led the Knights to a 12-5 record, their second straight region title and a
first-round playoff win.
The girls went 7-10 last year and finished third in the region to reach the playoffs.
Ronnie Choice returns ss the boys and girls track and field coach as well as the boys and girls
cross county coach. Melissa Jackson is the cheer coach and Charles Bell is the athletic trainer.
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