Panthers have a new athletic director

By Roger Lee

HSSR Contributing Writer

Summerville – Tae Hanna is entering his first school year in a new role at Pinewood Prep.

The school announced the appointment of Hanna as the new Athletic Director, effective for the 2025-26 school year, in March. Formerly a high school math teacher and JV Girls Basketball coach at Pinewood, Hanna steps into the role at a significant time for the school's athletic programs and community. He pledges to be committed to expanding opportunities for Pinewood student-athletes and enhancing their overall experience through mentorship, leadership, and positive influence.

"Over the past 20-plus years, I have learned that the most meaningful and lasting impressions come from consistency," Hanna said. "The school environment allows me to interact with students daily, providing a stable and encouraging presence in their lives. For me, education is not just a career—it is a calling, and I find fulfillment in making a difference."

He takes over the AD responsibilities from J.W. Myers, who will remain on with the school in other roles after serving as AD the past few years.

“With beautiful new facilities and phenomenal coaching staff, Pinewood Athletics has grown tremendously in recent years,” Dr. Dan Seiden, Pinewood's Head of School, said. “Tae Hanna's leadership as Athletic Director will be a critical piece of the puzzle to take our student-athletes' experience to the next level. His infectious positivity and seemingly endless energy will serve this community well for many years to come.”

A proud native of Timmonsville, SC, Hanna brings a rich background in both education and athletics. He attended Florence County public schools before earning his Bachelor of Science in Sports and Retail Management from the University of South Carolina (Columbia), followed by a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.

Hanna's career began in management, but his true calling brought him back to education. Over his extensive career in teaching, he has held numerous roles, including kindergarten TA, ITS Teacher Assistant, and math teacher for grades 7-12. In these roles, he consistently demonstrated a talent for mentorship, curriculum development, and fostering student achievement. His dedication to students earned him the honor of being named District Teacher of the Year.

In addition to his classroom achievements, Hanna has been involved in youth development through sports. He has coached at multiple levels, serving as an assistant coach for varsity football and basketball teams, and taking on head coaching roles for both boys' and girls' basketball teams.

In large part, Pinewood has a seasoned group of returning coaches for its varsity programs. However, the school has hired a few more coaches.

The Panthers have added Softball to their list of sports and asked Ben Snyder to head the program. The school will probably just field a JV team this year, but with the addition of a new softball field under construction will eventually field a varsity team.



The Panthers have a new Girls Basketball coach, Will Priester, and new Cheerleading coach, Veronica Pieretti. Amber Andrews is new to the Sports Medicine program.

The school’s other head coaches are familiar to students and parents alike.

Pat Eidson has been the Boys’ Basketball coach for more than 30 years and has led Pinewood teams to multiple region and state championships. In January, he claimed his 944^th career victory to break the South Carolina record for most basketball coaching wins.

Gail Osborne has been the Pinewood Girls Soccer coach since 2005 and led the program to multiple region championships and eight state championships.

Jessica Archambault has coached Swimming for the school for more than 15 years, but is now sharing responsibilities with Tony Schupp. Baseball coach Jay Buddin has been with the school for more than 10 years.

Other coaches returning are Andy Morgan (Lacrosse and Girls Golf), DeVonte Holloman (Football), Tuesday Abernathy (Girls Volleyball), Brandon Brown (Boys Golf), Jake Birdsong (Cross Country/Track), Sean Murphy (Girls Tennis), Nick Brammer (Boys Soccer) and Cadill Maharaj (Boys Tennis).