James Island – A new era of First Baptist football is set to begin in 2023 as the program welcomes a new head coach and staff for the upcoming season.
First Baptist hired Jamaal Birch to head the program back in February. Birch comes to First Baptist from Providence Day School where he worked under former Oceanside Collegiate head coach Chad Grier.
“When I first met coach Birch, I knew he was going to be our next head football coach,” athletic director Graham Haley said. “He has a true vision for our program and our school that will be unmatched on and off the field. His faith, leadership skills and integrity will make him a true difference-maker in the lives of our students. Coach Birch has a contagious energy that will bring our program to the highest level.”
Birch got his start in coaching at Oceanside Collegiate under Grier, serving three seasons as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He also coached wide receivers at Providence Day, which won state titles in 2021 and 2022.
Birch is excited for his first opportunity to be a head coach and loves the potential at First Baptist.
“From the moment I stepped on campus, I felt the love and commitment from everyone I came in contact with,” Birch said. “Meeting with the administrators, the faculty, the students, it felt like home. This place has an amazing family atmosphere and everyone wants the same thing. First Baptist is a great place for me to grow in my faith and a great place to grow as a coach. I can’t wait to get started.”
Before getting started, the new coach was tasked with forming his coaching staff. He feels he has put together a solid staff, which includes coaches with familiarity to the school and to James Island.
Birch’s assistant head coach is James Island native Curtis Williams, a sixth-year coach. Williams also will work with the offensive line and will be the co-offensive coordinator.
Williams shares offensive coordinator duties with running backs coach Andrew Murphy, a First Baptist alum who played on two state championship teams.
Third-year coach Terrell Peal will coach the wide receivers. Peal is a native of St. Louis, Missouri.
The Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator is Devin Brown, a former All-American as a kick returner at Coastal Carolina. Brown is a sixth-year coach and a native of James Island.
Joel Osteen will work with defensive backs and Rollin Jenkins will coach the defensive linemen. Coaching linebackers is former Hurricane Timmy Campbell, also a member of two state championship teams at First Baptist.
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