Northwood Academy Hoping to Build On Success From 2025-26 School Year
Veteran head coach Johnny Waters will be starting his 4th season with the Chargers who recently won the 7-on-7 championship against all teams in June at the University of South Carolina passing league competitive camp.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Summerville—Northwood Academy will once again field 17 varsity sports during the 2026-27 school year as athletic director Ryan Leaver begins his 19th season with the Charger SCISA AAAA athletic program.
The school moved their campus from North Charleston to the Carnes Crossroads area of Berkley County in 2015, and this area is among the fastest growing populations anywhere in the state of South Carolina.
“Our Head of School, Dr. Christi Furrow, has done an amazing job promoting growth at our school,” said Coach Leaver. “We have waiting lists for just about every grade at our school.”
Coach Leaver said the focus at Northwood Academy is the development of the “whole student body, in both academics and athletics. “Everything we do as a school and a church is putting Christ at the center of everything we do,” he said. “Our kids are the pillars of the school for sure.
“We lean on our relationships,” said Coach Leaver. “Having so many sports, and so many coaches, who do not always work at the school, we work hard at building relationships, and the kids see this also. We know that many student athletes want to specialize and play just one sport, but we want our basketball coaches to stand on the football sidelines and vice versa. We hope all the athletes and coaches support all the sports at the school.”
During the 2025 football season the Chargers went 14-0 and won a SCISA AAAA state title against Heathwood Hall in the finals. It was the school’s third state title in school history. Veteran head coach Johnny Waters will be starting his 4th season with the Chargers who recently won the 7-on-7 championship against all teams in June at the University of South Carolina passing league competitive camp.
“Last year was the third season for Coach Waters and he came into the season with his sights on a state title run,” said Coach Leaver. “He challenged the guys with that and they responded. Coach Waters is a tremendous head football coach, and he truly cares about his players on and off the field.”
On Waters has 10 varsity football assistants on the Chargers staff. Coach Leaver is the defensive coordinator while Kenny Ray is the offensive coordinator. Shawn King works with receivers, John McCall is the QB coach, while Josh Blackstock mentors the OL.
Tommy Grady is an offensive assistant while Chris Billingslea and Keith Gamble work with the DL and DB’s, respectively. LoRay Connor is the LB coach and Corey Washington works with running backs.
Northwood will start the 2026 football season on the road against Bethesda Academy; the defending SCISA AA champions. The Chargers are at home against rival Heathwood Hall on August 28th.
The dean of head coaches at Northwood is girl’s head basketball coach Ginnell Curtis, and her team made it all the way to the state finals championship during the 2025-26 season.
The Chargers finished 28-2 and were led by rising senior combo guard prospect Maliyah Birch who averaged 20 points a game last season. “Our goal will always be to win the state championship,” said Coach Curtis. “We’ll be back next season.”
The volleyball program will have a new head coach this year in Alexis Gandy, Last year’s coach was Kennedy Pointer, who was an all-American player at The College of Charleston, but she moved away with her husband for his job opportunity in Arkansas. Coach Gandy is stepping up after serving as an assistant volleyball coach for the past two seasons.
The swim team is under the tutelage of new coach Frank Berger. He will be assisted by Jess McLoughlin and Chris Garver. Shawn Wood is the new boy’s and girls’ cross-country coach. He will be assisted by Chloe Mott.
Coach Leaver said that the biggest money maker for the school’s athletic program is the archery team, and they have won seven straight SCISA state titles under the direction of head coach Doug McLeod. He is assisted by Louise Silence.
“We had 60 boy’s and girl’s athletes on our archery team last season, and we have trophies and awards scattered all over the school,” said Coach Leaver. “The gym is always packed out for home Archery events. The sport brings in a lot of revenue to our athletic program.”
The boys’ basketball team will have a new head coach in the person of Josh Cutler. Thomas Nicholson and James Ugland will assist him. The wrestling program returns head coach Rob Stolin for another season.
The varsity cheer squad head coach Christy Christmas returns, and she is assisted by Joyce O’Brien. Ashley Farr will return for his second season as head baseball coach. Track coach Keith Bolus returns for his third season. Paul Dalesandro begins his 5th season as the head boys’ soccer coach while Jason Bond returns for his 4th season as the head girls’ soccer coach.
The school is still seeking a head softball coach at this time.
Thomas Nicholson is the Asst. AD and Doug McLeod is in charge of Athletic Operations. The school’s athletic trainer is Kevin Thomas.
