Stacy Bell new Thomas Sumter football coach

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • July 27, 2024

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Tanner Brunson is new athletic director

Dalzell – Thomas Sumter Academy will have a new football head coach for the 2024-25 school year in Stacy Bell after Brannon Tidwell, also the athletic director, stepped down.

Tanner Brunson, who is now the athletic director, said Bell, who was an assistant coach at

Brookland-Cayce High School last season, has stepped in and is doing a good job.

"We're very excited to have Coach Bell lead our football program,” Brunson said. “His drive and

overall coaching philosophy align perfectly with the core values of Thomas Sumter Academy. The

experience and knowledge that he has gained at both the collegiate and high school levels have already benefitted our student-athletes throughout the summer. In addition to football, he makes it his mission every day to make our guys better men, which for me is a sign of a true leader."

Rob Coursey is back as the head coach for the ultra-successful boys and girls cross country

teams and the boys and girls track and field teams. Mac McLeod is also coaching two sports in the

archery team and the bowling team.

Cedric Rembert is the girls basketball head coach, and Thomas Sumter is just about ready to

announce its new boys basketball head coach. Gwen Herod is back as the volleyball head coach, Kelsie Decker is in charge of the girls tennis program, Leniel Gonzalez is the baseball head coach, David Porter is in charge of softball, Michael Spohn is the wrestling coach, Eric Leagones is the boys soccer coach, Paul Greer is the boys golf coach, and Jennifer Brazell and Deseree Allen are in charge of varsity cheerleading.

"I really like this group of coaches,” Brunson said. “It's a great mix of experienced veterans in the coaching profession as well as some new up-and-comers. All our coaches across the staff have a great old-school work ethic and utilize new innovative ideas to prepare their programs for current and future success.

"Our goal as an athletic department is to build Thomas Sumter athletics into the best version of itself that it can be, and I can't think of a better group of people to achieve that with."

Thomas Sumter will play in AA in football as a member of Region 2. The Generals' region foes will be Calhoun Academy, Clarendon Hall, Orangeburg Prep, Greenwood Christian and Spartanburg Christian.

The Generals will play at the AAA level in all other sports. TSA will be a member of Region 1

along with Clarendon Hall, Orangeburg Prep and Calhoun.

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.