Myrtle Beach adds to varsity coaching staff for coming year
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Myrtle Beach – For the most part, the varsity sports head coaching roster at Myrtle Beach High will return intact for the 2025-26 school year.
However, two varsity sports will have new leaders when the new year begins as athletic director John Cahill hires new head coaches in volleyball and girls soccer.
Taking over the girls volleyball program will be Emma Ann Lay, a former all-region performer and recent graduate of Winthrop University, where she was a member of the volleyball program.
In girls soccer, the new head coach will be Levi Gray, who brings a wealth of experience as a club coach and player development director.
As for the rest of the varsity staff, returning coaches will again take the reins of their respective programs.
Mickey Wilson is set to return for his 17th season as the head football coach. Wilson has guided the Seahawks to three state championships (2010, 2013, 2018) and two state runner-up finishes (2009, 2019). Wilson has averaged 10 wins per season and 2022 was his first losing season as the Seahawks finished with a 5-7 record. Myrtle Beach has won 10 or more games nine times under Wilson’s guidance.
The most successful athletic program, in terms of state championships, at Myrtle Beach is the boys tennis program. The Seahawks won the 2023 state title, going back-to-back with championships. Their bid for a three-peat came up short in a finals loss to Riverside last spring but the Seahawks bounced back with a state title in AAAAA Division II this spring. It was the 13th state championship for the program. Jeremy Howard is the head coach of the boys tennis team.
Susan Sparks is set to return as the girls tennis coach this fall while Meredith Jiorle returns as the girls cross country coach. Jiorle also is the varsity softball coach in the spring.
Also in the fall, Katherine Detlaff returns to head up the boys swim program while Kaitlyn Holmes will again coach the girls swim team.
Lowell Counce will again coach the girls golf team in the fall as well as the boys golf team in the spring.
In basketball, Jennifer Dennison returns as the girls varsity coach, and Eric Lyons returns for his fourth season as the boys coach. Veteran Ken MacIver will continue his efforts with the wrestling program.
Veteran Tim Christy is set to return as the head baseball coach next spring. Jason Himmelsbach heads up the boys soccer team. Stephen Nickerson is the boys lacrosse coach. John Sedeska (boys) and Leandra Walcott (girls) will handle track and field.
