Bishopville -- David Rankin will be back in an old position at Lee Academy and will be
stepping away from a position which he has been in for several years.
Rankin was not the athletic director at the Bishopville school last year but retained his roles as
head coach for both baseball and football. He will be coming back into the AD role and will remain as the
football head coach but will no longer be the baseball head coach.
Lee Gainey, who replaced Rankin as AD this past year, resigned after accepting the post of
football head coach at Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach.
As for baseball, Lee has hired Jeff Evans to take over the program. Rankin said it has been a
work in progress in making the transition to Evans.
“We’ve been talking to him a couple of years about taking over the baseball program,” said
Rankin, who has led the Cavaliers to two state titles in baseball and took them to the championship round
five other times. “It just worked out that the time was right in this case. I was in a situation where I totally
decided I would do just one sport. I'll be the athletic director. That'll keep me busy.”
Lee Academy is coming off of winning a state championship in football. The Cavaliers snapped
the run of Thomas Heyward Academy’s Class A championships at four. Rankin, who had led Lee to a
title game in five of the past eight seasons, owns two state championships in football as well.
Justin Logan, the head coach at Clarendon Hall last season, is back on Rankin’s staff. The other
assistants are David Daniel, Rob Brazell and Will Watson.
Kim Langston will return as the girls basketball head coach after guiding the Lady Cavaliers to
the state playoffs, where they won a game.
Arthur Danzy is taking over the boys program. He was an assistant under Brad Bochette last
season when the Cavaliers won nine games and reached the state playoffs.
Heath Griffin and Craig Nesbit will return for their second seasons as the volleyball and softball
coaches, respectively.
“Heath is a hard worker and is a very good coach,” Rankin said. “He’s well respected around the
state. Craig is a very, very hard worker. He knows softball really well. I feel like they'll both get better
as they get to know the girls and will put their stamp on the programs.”
Lindsay Brazell is back as the cheerleading coach. The bowling coach has yet to be determined.
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021