Green Wave makes coaching changes for multiple fall sports
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.
