Andy Palmer Takes Over As Andrew Jackson Athletic Director & Head Football Coach
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Ehrhardt—Andy Palmer has become the new athletic director and head football coach for Andrew Jackson Academy and the 34-year coaching veteran says he is very appreciative for the school and community embracing him and his family with open arms.
Coach Palmer previously served as the head football coach at Holly Hill Academy where his teams were very successful. Prior to that he was with Orangeburg Prep and Edisto High schools.
“I am just now getting my feet on the ground at Andrew Jackson Academy,” said Coach Palmer. “My family lives only live 9 miles from Andrew Jackson Academy, in Bamberg, so we live in the same community as the school.
“I am still evaluating the 25 or so players we have had at weight room work-outs since early June,” said Coach Palmer. “I was still working at Holly Hill Academy until the end of May. With our baseball team at Andrew Jackson competing for a state title it hurt our opportunity to have a full-scale Spring work-out schedule.
“I also feel good about being the athletic director, and being in the same building every day with the student athletes,” he said. “This will give us a chance to communicate often and build relationships with our athletes.
“We have good coaches in place in all of our sports, and the majority of our teams made the play-offs this past season, with the boys’ basketball team (Josh Barnes) competing for a state championship also,” said Coach Palmer. “As athletic director I want all visiting teams to our school to feel a very competitive and championship type atmosphere when they compete against us.
“I want all our student athletes to know that I have their back and I will do everything I can to ensure they have good facilities to compete on,” said Coach Palmer.
Some of the players returning to Andrew Jackson Academy football include Hall Sease, who played quarterback last year, but he could also see time at wide receiver also. Ollie Barnes has worked hard in the weight room over the summer and will likely play running back. Tanner Chassereau is a varsity candidate in the offensive and defensive line along with returning player Cooper Hiers who was an outside linebacker a year ago.
Brad Hightower returns and he is a running back/linebacker candidate. Grayson Hay with see time at tight-end and outside linebacker while Connor Mount will likely start at center and flip some to the defensive line. Everett Ulmer is a retuning skilled athlete. Eli Mathys has been to most of the weight room work-outs in June and he is a tight end candidate. Landon Johnson is a quarterback returnee and Walker Terry started in the offensive line last year. Junior Elizuh Davis is back and he started at tight-end/defensive end last year.
“We are getting alate start and I am still evaluating and getting to know the players we will have on the team this season,” said Coach Palmer. “While we are a little behind, we will get things pointed in the right direction. We always do.”
Coach Palmer is currently assisted by Cade Wiles, who was a player on one of his Orangeburg Prep teams a few years ago. He has also asked Gene Sease, a former championship head coach at Andrew Jackson Academy to be an assistant for this season.
The Warriors first three games this season will be at home against Faith Chrisitan on August, 15 and then at Dorchester Academy the following week. On August, 29 the team will host Orangeburg Prep.
