Aundres Perkins hired as new Marion football head coach
Former Wilson head coach Darryl Page will serve as Swamp Foxes offensive coordinator
Marion – Aundres Perkins knows that the Marion High School football team has gone 1-19 over the last two seasons, including a 0-10 record last year, and is in the throes of an 18-game losing streak.
However, being a native of the Pee Dee and having coached in the area his entire career, Perkins also knows Marion is loaded with plenty of athletes. That, more than anything, is why Perkins decided he wanted the job of Swamp Foxes head coach.
“Marion has been in a lot of growing pains of late,” said Perkins, who was hired in May. “I’m a hard worker, and I believe these young men are hungry. Marion has always had athletes. I’m glad I was lucky enough to get it.”
And it’s not as if Marion has been in an extended state of despair. In the five seasons prior to the 1-9 campaign in 2024, the Swamp Foxes won 41 games and played for the AA state championship in 2020.
Perkins believes the opportunity for a quick turnaround is still there.
“Marion is still Marion; they still have athletes,” Perkins said. “We’re not going to dwell on what happened in the past. We’re just going to get out there and change the culture to where the kids believe in themselves and just get a win.”
Perkins comes to Marion after having served as an assistant coach at Hartsville. Prior to that, he was an assistant at West Florence, his alma mater where he played running back before going on to play collegiately at Coastal Carolina.
Perkins has been a head coach one other time, at Hannah-Pamplico in 2015 and 2016. He posted a 10-13 record during his 2-year stint.
Perkins has his coaching staff in place with Darryl Page as his offensive coordinator. Page led Wilson High to a state title as a head coach.
Darnell Williams and Aykelle Cross, teammates of Perkins at Coastal, are on the staff. Williams will coach the wide receivers and Cross the defensive line. Demetrius Johnson, a holdover from the previous staff, will coach running backs, Denton Graves the offensive line, and Randy Dennison, another returnee, the defensive backs.
“The coaching unit is great,” Perkins said. “We get along well, we challenge each other, we’re all hungry, and I think we’re all on the same page. These men have been around the game on the collegiate level, and they understand what it takes to be great.”
Perkins will coach the linebackers and call the defense. However, Perkins doesn’t see himself as a defensive aficionado or offensive one for that matter.
“I’m a football guy,” Perkins said. “I don’t emphasize one side over the other. I’m a student of the game. I’m always learning, trying to come up with new ideas.”
Perkins is happy with the progress the program has made over the summer.
“It’s going well,” he said “We’re laying things out, setting expectations for the kids. We’re trying to establish culture and getting back to having fun. It’s a kid’s game after all.”
“It’s been good, been positive. We’re giving them the power to the program, ownership, accountability. They’re buying in little by little.”
The Swamp Foxes, who have had 35 varsity players regularly attending summer workouts, open their season on Thursday, August 20, when they play host to Kingstree.
