Keith Coward Takes Over As Dillon High As Athletic Director For 2024-25 Season

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Dillon — Keith Coward officially became the athletic director at his alma mater on July, 1^st and he is excited about this new challenge and opportunity, and he will continue on as Dillon’s head baseball coach.

“Having grown up in Dillon I am very thankful and excited for the opportunity of being the new athletic director, and we have bene doing things the right way at Dillon High for a very long time,” said Coach Coward who was a four-time HSSR all-state baseball player by the time he graduated in 2005. Coward still owns the all-time career wins as a pitcher at Dillon with 31 wins.

Coach Coward went on to Erskine College after high school, where he played all four seasons as a right-handed pitcher. He returned to Dillon to teach and coach in 2009 and he just completed his second season as the head baseball coach.

“I want to thank Zach Hayes (former AD) who helped me a lot during this transition and we will miss him for sure,” said Coach Howard. “I am also fortunate to have Jackie Hayes near-by and every time I call him with an issue, he is always available with solid advice also.”

Coach Coward calls Dillon District Four Superintendent Ray Rogers a true blessing in the lives  of everyone in the local school system. “He is the best-of-the-best as far I am concerned,” said Coach Coward. “One of the things I learned early on from Mr. Rogers is that he loves the kids and he makes them first and foremost in all his decisions.

“He is very supportive of both academics and athletics and he is someone you can talk to when you have an issue,” said Coach Coward. “He makes sure our athletic program has what it needs to stay competitive.”

One key word within the Dillon athletic program is “stability”. All varsity head coaches remain the same for the 2024-25 school year.

The Dillon football program will start the season ranked number one as head coach Kelvin Roller enters his 4^th season.

“Coach Roller has continued the great football tradition established by Jackie Hayes who retired after the 2020 season with 356 career wins and seven state titles,” said Coach Coward. “Coach Roller learned a lot as the offensive coordinator under Coach Hayes before taking over the program. Dillon has played in two Lower State championship games under Coach Roller the past three seasons, and we expect continued success with him as our head football coach.”

Coach Roller is an unreal (32-4) in his first three seasons at Dillon. All of Coach Roller’s varsity assistants remain the same for this season. They include: Former HSSR Mr. Baseball, Jacob Shumate - QB’s and offensive coordinator, John Parker -OL; Leo Phillips - RB’s, Alan “Tiger” McLaurin - WR’s, NFL veteran Charlie Brown - WR’s, and Splinter Spivey rounds out the offensive assistant coaches tutoring tight-ends.

The varsity football defensive assistants include: Will Clark - ILB and defensive coordinator, Sam Grooms - OLB, Damu Ford - DL, Lee Page and Jamie Coleman - DB’s, and Bill Young - Special teams-LB’s.

The football team will host the Dillon Jamboree on August, 16 and the Wildcats will play Cheraw in the 9:30 p.m. nightcap. Other team participating include West Florence, Richmond County, NC, Chesterfield, Lake View, Darlington, Latta, Hartsville, and Scotland County, NC. Dillon will start the season on August, 23^rd at home against Scotland County.   

Johnna Jones returns to coach the varsity volleyball program. Jones is also the head jayvee softball coach. “Coach Jones has shown steady improvement with our volleyball program despite the program being young,” said Coach Coward.  “She and her team worked hard all summer.”

The junior varsity volleyball team is coached by Christine Campbell and the “B” team is under the direction of Michelle Keyes. 

“One of our goals in the near future is to start a cross-country program” said Coach Coward. “There is a lot of interest for that to be done.”

The highly successful girls’ basketball program will once again be under the direction of James McMilian. “The girls’ basketball team won a region title last year and they have most of their players back this season,” said Coach Coward. “I know they went to the Rock Hill Showcase over the summer and they were 3-1 competing against top teams.”

Keep your eye on rising freshman combo-guard Treasure Davis who has scored 657 points during her 7^th and 8th  grade seasons. Already considered a national level prospect for her age and class Davis could lead her team to a Class AAA state title before she graduates in 2027.

The boys’ varsity basketball team will once again be led by Dillon graduate Bryan Grice who is starting year seven with the team.  Coach Stacey and Jackie Amos coach the varsity and junior varsity basketball team respectively.  

Veteran varsity softball coach Stevie Grice continues to have success this past season, despite starting two 8^th graders and a 7^th grader this past season.

The Dillon softball team played for the Lower State title in May losing to an older Aynor softball team that went on to play for the state title. Late in the season, Coach Grice told the HSSR, “Of our 16 players on the varsity roster (starting the play-offs) 10 of them had no varsity playing experience prior to this season,” said Coach Grice.  “To say that I am proud of this team, and the fact that we have won 15 games, including two playoff games so far, is an under-statement.”

The varsity baseball team improved to seven wins in Coach Coward’s second season as head coach and he had one of the youngest teams in AAA baseball this past season.

“We are still going to be young but we will finally have a few juniors and senior players to keep building the team around,” said Coach Coward. “We are maturing but we will still have several 8^th graders and freshmen starters.”

Coach Coward is assisted by head junior varsity coach Austin Moody along with Steven Reed and Coley Bohachic. 

The boy’s track team is under the tutelage of Randy Gray once again. The girl’s track team is led by Sam Grooms once again.  The head adult trainer is Emma Pound.

Taylor Page will head up the varsity cheerleading team while Brittany Bethea will be in charge of the junior varsity squad.

The boys’ varsity soccer team (girls are allowed to play also) is head coached once again by N. Bamah.

Coach Coward is also pleased with the new floor that was installed at a middle school this past year and the gym at the high school will have the floor refinished by the end of this July.

“In the past couple years, we installed new fencing at Memorial Stadium and we also installed a new score board,” said Coach Coward.

Coach Coward said the athletic program is very appreciative of many volunteers who help make the athletic program at Dillon High very special. He wanted to give a shout-out to a few people from the community who have been involved with the athletic program for many years. “Dr. Phil Wallace has been our team doctor since the late 1980’s and he is very active supporting many good causes in our community,” said Coach Coward. “Lonnie Herring has been in charge of our athletic booster club for many years and we thank him for his efforts on behalf of the Dillon athletic program.

“Also, Lonnie Turner has been the announcer for many years at our home football games and he has kept stats forever also, and he has been saying for the past two years that he is retiring,” said Coach Coward. “Also, Martha “Mott” German has been a Super fan on our football sidelines for years and I know Coach Hayes has referred to her as the “team psychologist.”

Coach Coward said that while winning is important he likes to talk about the bigger picture. “We have done great things in our athletic program over the years and I will be working hard to keep that success going,” he said. “However, having all our sports team growing closer together, and becoming gone bug family that encourages and supports all our hard-working student athletes is a focus we have also.

“While winning is always a main goal preparing all of our student athletes for the game of life after they graduate from Dillon High is also very important,” said Coach Coward.