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Florence Christian returns same group of head coaches again

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • Aug 07, 2023

Eagles played for state titles in football and girls basketball last season

Florence Florence Christian School will have the same varsity head coaching staff in place

for the third consecutive year, and that sits quite well with Eagles athletic director Neil Minton.


“We have a great staff,” said Minton, who is part of that staff as he serves as both the football

head coach and the girls basketball head coach. “They are loving, disciplined, and have a lot of

experience. God has truly blessed me to have such an amazing group.”


The football team had an up-and-down season last year in SCISA AAA, but it was definitely on

an upward trajectory at the end. The Eagles finished with a 7-7 record but played for the state

championship. They lost a 36-35 overtime thriller to Pee Dee Academy at West Florence High School.

After a 5-6 regular season, Florence Christian beat Hilton Head Christian Academy 43-36 in

the first round of the playoffs and took down Wilson Hall 19-17 in the semifinals. Both of those games

were on the road.


Minton, who is heading into his 12th year as the football coach, will be assisted by defensive

coordinator Chris Coker, Mark Drummond, Garrett Coker, Michael Smith, Teddy Allred and Jared

Vernon.


The girls basketball team went 15-8 and reached the second round of the state tournament before

losing to eventual state champion Hilton Head Christian.


Denise Carter returns as both the volleyball and softball coach. She led the volleyball team to the

AAA state championship match where they lost to 7-time defending state champion Spartanburg

Christian.


FCS finished with a 31-2-1 record. The Lady Eagles got to the title match by beating Thomas

Sumter Academy, Greenwood Christian, HHCA, Shannon Forest and Northside Christian.


Clay Bochette is back as the boys basketball head coach. Bochette led the Eagles to a 16-7 record

and to the second round of the state playoffs. After beating Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach in the

first round, FCS lost to another eventual state champion in Hilton Head Prep.


Josh Guthrie is the babe of the varsity head coaches as he is entering his third year in charge of

the baseball program. Guthrie led Florence Christian to a 22-11 record as it finished in a 3-way tie for first

place in Region 2 with Pee Dee and Williamsburg Academy – the two teams that played for the AAA

state title.


FCS was eliminated by Williamsburg in the championship round of its bracket.


Rob Hardy will coach both the boys golf team and the girls tennis team. Garrett Coker returns as

the boys soccer coach and Sara Deaver is the cheer coach.


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