Anderson, Ard new Laurence Manning basketball coaches

Manning – Patrick Anderson is the new boys basketball head coach at Laurence Manning

Academy, while veteran coach Lisa Ard will take over the school’s girls basketball program.

           Anderson and Ard replace Will Epps, who was the head coach for both of the teams last season. Epps and the school chose to part ways after the season. Epps was the boys coach for 24 years before taking on the girls position as well last season.

This will be Anderson’s first time as a varsity head coach. However, the Laurence Manning

graduate was an assistant to Epps for nine years.

           “I appreciate the board and administration having the confidence in me to lead this program, and I look forward to the opportunity to carry on the tradition at the place I call home,” Anderson said.

Ard hasn’t been a varsity basketball head coach since 2006, the final of her nine successful

seasons at Crestwood High School. She moved on to East Clarendon where she helped build the middle school girls basketball program while leading the varsity softball team to a pair of state championships.

           Ard coached the junior varsity girls basketball team at LMA two years ago and coached the B team this past season.

          “I have told Mr. (headmaster Tripp) Boykin from the time I was hired that I would do anything they needed me to do,” Ard said. “When they were looking for a coach I was asked if I would be interested, and I told them if that is what they needed me to do I could.”

          Robbie Briggs, who is in the first year of his second stint as athletic director and football head coach for the Swampcats, is excited with the two hires.

          “I’m excited that Patrick has this opportunity to become a varsity head coach,” Briggs said. “He does a great job relating to the kids, and they have the utmost respect for him as he was a key component on the last state championship in boys basketball (in 2012).

          “I’ve known Coach Ard for years and have always had the utmost respect for her, not only as a fellow coach but as a parent who has watched her coach against my kids in softball and basketball,” Briggs added. “She does things the right way, and it’s first class head to toe.”

         Briggs, who was in charge of the program for six seasons from 2013 through 2018, was hired to replace Will Furse as both the football head coach and athletic director. Furse left after two years to take a similar position at Lee Academy in Bishopville. He led the Swampcats to the SCISA AAAA state championship game each year.

        Briggs recorded a 50-24 record in his first stint at Laurence Manning. The Swampcats reached the semifinals in five of those six seasons and played for the state title in 2014 and 2017.

        Before coaching at LMA, Briggs was the head coach at Manning High School, his alma mater,

for 12 seasons. He posted a 103-45 record at Manning, giving him an overall record of 153-69.

        Briggs guided the Monarchs to three lower state title games and 10 or more wins in five of the

seasons.

        Briggs will call the defense while Anderson will be the assistant head coach and offensive

coordinator. He will also coach the quarterbacks and wide receivers.

Ryan Anderson, Patrick’s twin brother, will coach running backs and H backs. Al Nelson will

coach the defensive backs and Will Gainey will handle special teams. Johnathan Griffith will be a defensive assistant and CJ Griffith is the video coordinator.

Veteran coach Shawn McCord will be in charge of the junior varsity team and will be an

offensive assistant on the varsity. Andrew White will coach the defensive line on varsity and will be the junior varsity defensive coordinator.

           Briggs, Patrick Anderson and Ard won’t be the only new head coaches for Laurence Manning. Donald Hardy will be in charge of the girls golf program, replacing Gary Bennett.

           “I’m very happy to have Donald Hardy as our new girls golf coach,” Briggs sid. “Donald runs the junior association and clinics here in Clarendon County and has won numerous club championships. He just does a great job with young people.”

           There are some returning coaches at Laurence Manning though. Buddy Truett will be back in charge of the softball program, which won the AAAA state championship with a sweep of Hammond in the best-of-3 championship series in May.

           The Lady ‘Cats finished the season with an 18-4 record in giving the program its ninth state title and its first since 2017. Truett led Laurence Manning to the state championship series in his first two seasons before finally breaking through this past season.

           Longtime head coach Barry Hatfield is back in charge of the baseball program. Hatfield has guided Laurence Manning to three state championships. The Swampcats won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017 with the other coming in 2022.

           Amy Marshall returns as the volleyball head coach, Jennifer Weinberg is back in charge of the girls tennis team and Karla Beard is the cross country head coach.

           Laurence Manning will be part of an 8-team AAAA in football along with Augusta Christian School, Ben Lippen, Hammond, Porter-Gaud, Cardinal Newman, Heathwood Hall and Northwood Academy.

           It will be a part of an expanded AAAA in all other sports though. LMA will be in Region 3 along with Camden Military, Hilton Head Christian Academy, John Paul II, Trinity Collegiate and Wilson Hall.