Abbeville – According to athletic director Maggie Jameson, there are few high school athletic programs with more dedicated coaches and more community support than Abbeville High’s athletic program.
As a one town, one school model, Abbeville has one of the state’s top programs. The Panthers may not win a state championship in every sport but its not due to lack of effort or commitment. In a small town, raising money for high school athletics can be difficult but Jameson says the Abbeville community answers the call as often as possible.
“Abbeville has the most supportive fans who come out to events by the bus load and are always there to support out athletes in every way possible,” says Jameson, who is entering her third year as athletic director. “Without the community, the fans, the businesses, we could not run our athletic department.”
Along with community support, Jameson sees a coaching staff that works extra hard to give their athletes the best opportunity to compete and win championships. And, coaching at Abbeville is about more than wins and losses.
“Our coaches do a phenomenal job of not only coaching our athletes in their respective sports, but also coaching them in the game of life,” she says. “They work so hard to ensure that we succeed on the field, on the court, on the mat, and in our community.”
Most often in communities like Abbeville, athletes perform and graduate but rarely leave Abbeville. Those who attend college often find themselves back home as fans and supporters. Some end up on the coaching staff of a particular sport.
The highly successful football program is led by a former Panther player, Jamie Nickles. Abbeville’s football program won its 12th state championship last December and Nickles has played a part in 11 titles. He played on the 1981 state championship team and was an assistant coach on the 1996 title team.
Nickles became the head coach in 2004 and is now the winningest coach (more than 200 wins) in school history. He has been the head coach for eight state championship teams (2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022). Since 2015, Abbeville is a remarkable 104-7 and has posted double-digit wins in all but four seasons since 2004.
Offensive line coach Wayne Botts also is a former Panther player. His father, Dennis, is a former head coach of the Panthers.
Two defensive assistants that joined the staff last season are secondary coach Jaquavious Gilchrist and linebackers coach Tanko Rayford. Both played for the Panthers.
Defensive line coach Rex Pelfrey is the elder statesman of the staff, having played on Abbeville’s first-ever state championship team in 1971.
Assistant head coach Ellis Belton played on the 1991 state championship team. Two junior varsity football coaches, Tim Collins and Jermaine Paul, are former Abbeville players. Collins also is the head softball coach.
“It definitely helps a lot to have coaches who have played here and know the tradition,” Nickles said.
Two other varsity head coaches at Abbeville are alumni. Daniel Little is the head baseball coach and Bill Glace is the head wrestling coach.
Also returning to the varsity football staff is offensive coordinator Gil Cade, who also coaches the quarterbacks. Shane Cox and Jim Porter are junior varsity coaches.
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