Goose Creek adds coaches to staff

David Shelton • July 23, 2024

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Goose Creek – Sometimes a coaching staff needs a little shakeup. Goose Creek head football coach Jason Winstead looked into his program and made what he feels are necessary changes to his 2024 coaching staff.

Winstead is not one to pass blame around but says he felt the need to change some coaching personnel in hopes that the Gators will be improved this fall.

“It happens sometimes,” said Winstead, heading into his seventh season as head coach. “I have to look at what’s available and decide if the new guys can make a difference. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t. I just felt we needed to be a better team if we want to compete for a region title and beyond.”

The biggest changes on the football staff will come on the defensive side. The Gators gave up more than 30 points per game last season.

Stepping in as defensive coordinator is Ben Lailson, a well-known defensive coach in the area. Lailson spent several years at Timberland High and also coached at Philip Simmons. He was most recently the head coach at Stall but had little to no success.

“The guy can coach defense,” Winstead said. “He will coach the linemen and call the shots. He has a very good football mind and I think our defense will be improved.”

Lailson also will take over as the varsity softball coach in the spring, according to athletic director Troy Johnson.

Another new defensive coach, Lee Taylor, brings more than 30 years of experience and will coach outside linebackers. Taylor, a former player at Charleston Southern, has spent the majority of his coaching career at several prominent programs in the Upstate.

“We got lucky with Lee,” Winstead said. “He has grandkids down here and he and his wife wanted to be closer to them. It worked out great for us.”

Returning assistant Joe Marion, another veteran, will move to coach inside linebackers this fall. DeAndre Daniels, a former star player at Goose Creek, is joining the varsity staff in the secondary. Another returning coach, Booker Peake, is moving up from the jayvee program and will coach running backs. That position includes junior Melig McGowans, one of the top 2026 backs in the state.

Joey Still returns as the offensive line coach with four returning starters.

Johnson also announced the hiring of Vincent Messineo as the new varsity girls soccer.

Returning as varsity head coaches are Blake Hall (boys basketball), Jabari Deas (girls basketball), Kirk Rebuck (baseball), Chris and Amanda Cooper (cross country), Joey Still (boys golf), James Taylor (girls golf), Nick Brammer (boys soccer), Paula Spagnolia (girls tennis), Willie Nearhood (wrestling) and Irish Bamba (volleyball).

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.