Jimmy Noonan getting ready for first season as Laurence Manning football coach
Noah Ernest to serve as defensive coordinator
Manning – It took a little bit of work, but Jimmy Noonan has his first staff as the football head coach at Laurence Manning Academy put together.
“I feel good about the staff going forward,” said Noonan, whose first year at LMA will be his 24th as a head coach. “There’s not a head coach out there that doesn't want to strengthen his staff and keep stability. It’s an evolving process, but I like the people we have in place.”
Noonan, who has a career record of 131-133 in stops at Spring Valley, Wando and Georgetown high schools and Wilson Hall, will handle the offensive play calling. Helping Noonan out on that side of the ball are AJ Nelson, Andrew White and Cedric Bennett. Nelson will coach the wide receivers, White the offensive line, and Bennett, a former standout for Manning High, will coach the running backs.
Noah Ernest, a newcomer to Laurence Manning, will be the defensive coordinator. He had been on the staff at West Florence. Another newcomer is Craig Hatcher, a former head coach at Central. He will be in charge of the linebackers. Casey Connors, the former head coach at Clarendon Hall, will coach the defensive line.
Shawn McCord, a longtime coach at Laurence Manning, will be the junior varsity head coach and will be assisted by Patrick Anderson and Jason Duke. Anderson was the interim head coach for the final six games last season after Robbie Briggs resigned the post. The Swampcats went 1-5 under Anderson to finish 3-8 on the year.
Another Laurence Manning fixture, Al Nelson, will be the B team head coach. He will be assisted by Chris Ford and Jackson Brunson.
Outside of the one year at Wilson Hall, the rest of Noonan’s coaching career has come in the South Carolina High School League. He is having to learn the different nuances of the South Carolina Independent School Association.
Part of the challenge is getting used to the ins and outs of SCICA when all I've known is High School League,” Noonan said. “I’ve gotten great support and great backing from the board.”
Noonan has been happy with what the football team has been able to accomplish during summer workouts.
“I’m not used to not having spring, so we had to answer questions and find our what we’re about,” he said. “I think we made plenty of progress in that venture, but most of it came without pads and contact. That’s why our scrimmages will be important.”
The Swampcats will go to Florence Christian School for a scrimmage on August 1 before playing host to Lake View on August 7. Laurence Manning will then take on East Clarendon in a jamboree at Manning on August 15.
Laurence Manning opens its regular season on August 22 with a home game against John Paul II.
“Jimmy has a very structured and disciplined style and is great in the weight room with developing our players,” said Laurence Manning athletic director Morgan Watt. “I’m really excited for this season.”
Watt will be in his first full season as athletic director after serving as the interim AD following last year’s shakeup. He will return as the boys golf coach, a position he has held for several years.
Laurence Manning has Buddy Truett returning as softball coach after leading the Lady ‘Cats to their second consecutive AAAA state championship. Laurence Manning went 24-3 and swept Wilson Hall in the best-of-3 championship series.
“Buddy does a great job with our softball program, building and developing championship-level players,” Watt said. “His success speaks for itself.”
Veteran head coach Barry Hatfield will remain in charge of the baseball program. Hatfield has guided Laurence Manning to three state championships. The Swampcats won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017 with the other coming in 2022.
Laurence Manning finished this past season with a 17-4 record, going undefeated in winning the region
title. The season didn’t end the way the Swampcats had hoped for though as they dropped their final regular-season game and went 0-2 in the state playoffs.
Watt is more than happy that Hatfield is still in the fold.
“Barry has a ton of experience and knows what it takes to win,” Watt said. “He is great at developing players.”
Laurence Manning will have both of its basketball coaches coming back for their second seasons in girls coach Lisa Ard and Anderson, the boys coach.
Ard, a longtime successful head coach at Crestwood High School, led the Lady ‘Cats to a 14-13 record and a berth in the AAAA state tournament. With most of the starting lineup returning, Watt thinks big things await the girls program.
“Lisa has tons of experience and has a great, positive style,” he said. “I’m looking forward to our girls taking the next step with the players we have returning.”
Anderson led the Laurence Manning boys to a 13-15 overall record and was 6-4 in region play, tying for third with John Paul II. The Swampcats earned a berth in the AAAA state tournament but lost to Northside Christian Academy 68-54 in the first round.
“Patrick brings youth and passion for the game.” Watt said. “I’m really excited to see how he builds on the success of last season.”
Veteran Jay Atkins will return as the bowling head coach. He has led Laurence Manning to multiple state titles.
Other coaches who will return are Donald Hardy for girls golf, Jessica Weinberg for girls tennis, Karla Beard for boys and girls country and McCord for boys and girls track and field.
Alexus Carter is the new volleyball head coach. Robin Page and Sara Welch will share duties with the cheer program.
