Green Wave makes coaching changes for multiple fall sports

Roger Lee • July 29, 2024

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Heather Tucker hoists the 2024 Class AAAAA Softball State Championship trophy

By Roger Lee

Special to the HSSR

Summerville – The Summerville Athletic Department made four head coaching changes, but has the rest of its head coaches returning following successful campaigns in 2023.

Green Wave Athletic Director Matt Legare, now in his third school year at that position, on July 21 announced the changes. Liz Yohe is the new head of the Girls Volleyball program. Steve DiPaolo is the new head of the Boys Volleyball program. Skyler Dennis has stepped down as Boys Volleyball coach to lead the schools golf programs. Richard Schulz has been named the head of the Girls Tennis program.

Yohe, who racked up all-region, all-state, all-star, all-conference and various other awards as a standout for the Green Wave volleyball and soccer teams and Converse University volleyball team, replaces Rachel Page who stepped down from the position.

“Liz was already Rachel’s top assistant and she had a good summer working with the team so we are excited about that,” Legare said. “When she played for us she was a standout on the court and now she is good with the kids. They respond really well to her and she knows the system.”

Dennis is an accomplished golfer who took over the Summerville Boys Golf program in the spring. It was his coaching on the golf course that sparked the decision to make the other volleyball change.

“Honestly, Skyler is just a really good golf coach so we wanted him to focus on that,” Legare said. “It wouldn’t be right for our girl golfers to not be under his tutorage. Steve is the AD at DuBose Middle School and teaches PE. He has coached for years and is also our boys’ JV soccer coach so we have confidence in him.”

Schulz comes to the school from Phillip Simmons. He replaces Claire Kriese, who served only one year as the Lady Wave coach.

“Richard has coached for a long time at Phillip Simmons and won a lot of state championships there,” Legare said. “He is a Summerville resident and brings a lot of knowledge, excitement and experience to the job. Our girls are very young and talented so it should be a good fit. That team has some of its top players returning.”

The school’s other coaches are a veteran and successful group.

“The common trait is they understand they are at a place where they need to leave a legacy,” Legare said. “There are high expectations here so they make sure the kids want to leave a legacy in the classroom, in the community and in competition. The wrestling team has been working very hard and feels good about the wrestlers they have coming back. Kind of the jewel in our crown right now is our softball team, which has a chance to three-peat as state champions. Baseball, football and both basketball teams have a good chance and have been working hard this summer.”

Heather Tucker returns after leading the softball team to its second straight 5A Softball State Championship. Her team had a historic season, going 30-0 in 2024 and should be a championship contender in 2025.

Darryl Tucker returns after leading the wrestling team to a region championship and Lower State championship several times including last season.

Ian Rafferty is back to head the football program after leading the Green Wave to region championship and appearance in the 5A Lower State Championship game last season. Summerville finished the season 13-1 after losing 21-14 to White Knoll in the Lower State Finals.

Thane Maness took the Summerville Baseball team to the 5A Lower State Championship game in the spring, his first with the team. The Wave won the game on the field, but didn’t advance to the state-title series because it had to forfeit the win due to a pitch-count rule violation. The team stands to return a promising squad in 2025.

Under the leadership of David Long, the Wave boys’ basketball team won the 2024 Lower State Championship before falling in the state finals. Under the leadership of Calvin Davis the girls’ basketball team fell in the Lower State Finals. Both teams should be contenders in 2025.

Other head coaches returning to Summerville include Kelly Hazel (boys’ and girls’ cross country), Kevin Bellush (track), Jesse Gladis (boys’ tennis), Stephanie Adams (swimming), Ashley Jacobs (cheerleading), Damon Dixon (boys’ soccer) and Amanda Holcomb (girls’ soccer). Scott Little is the school’s head athletic trainer.

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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.