Lamar football head coach Tyler Boyd likes pressure that comes from success
Silver Foxes reached Class A state championship game in Boyd's first season
Lamar – Tyler Boyd and his coaching staff did a pretty good job in his return to his alma mater as its football head coach last season. All the Silver Foxes did was go 12-3 and play for the Class A state championship.
So, hey, no pressure going into Year 2, right coach?
“I guess expectations added a little pressure,” said Boyd, who led Williamsburg Academy to consecutive SCISA state championship games in his two years in charge there before coming to Lamar. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of that kind of pressure for a while. I wouldn't want it any other way though. That’s part of being a good program, and it means maybe you’re doing something right.
“Now maybe we set the bar high by going that far. We’ve got a lot back and we’ll see what we can do this time.”
The only assistant coach Boyd lost from last year’s staff is offensive line coach Hayden Wilks. Returnee Jimmy Woods will move into that role this year.
The other returning coaches are Jeblonski Green, Rob Joye, Brian Scott and Alan Poole. The newcomer to the staff is Noah Brazzel.
Boyd having a year under the belt with the staff is making things much easier as they prepare for the 2026 season.
“I’m definitely more comfortable with them,” he said. “Last year it was a whole new team, a whole new situation. I feel great. It's a lot easier because the kids aren't learning a whole new offense and a whole new defense. The summer has definitely gone a lot smoother.”
Lamar has a scrimmage at Cheraw on August 6 and at Dillon on August 10 before playing in a jamboree at Wilson on August 14. The Silver Foxes open their season on August 21 at home against Darlington.
Lamar will only have one new varsity head coach as Adam Fedawa has stepped down as the baseball head coach. The interview process has yet to begin.
Carlos Burgess returns as the athletic director, while Randolph Scott will be the girls basketball coach, and Brian Scott returns as the boys hoops coach. Francis Humphrey will be the
boys and girls cross country coach, Alan Hunter will handle volleyball, Shane Brantley will be the softball coach, and John James will be in charge of wrestling.
The softball team went 18-11 under Brantley and reached the championship round of its district tournament in the state playoffs. The boys basketball team went 17-10 and reached the second round of the state playoffs, while the baseball team won a share of the region title and reached the championship round of its district tournament.
