By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@ythewoodrufftimes.com
The Woodruff football team will be led by new offensive and defensive coordinators this coming season.
In the past two weeks, head coach Brett Sloan confirmed the promotion of linebackers coach Nick Lilly to lead the defense, while Chris Lewis, an Upstate, SC native and graduate of Byrnes High School who has coached the past several years in Texas, will lead the offense.
Coach Lilly, who coached previously at J.L. Mann High School, is a native of Aynor, SC. He has been on staff with Woodruff for the past two seasons. Coach Lilly is an intense, defensive-minded coach, and he is excited to get to work with a loaded Wolverine unit that returns a plethora of talent on that side of the ball.
“I am very excited to have this opportunity,” explained Lilly. “This defense is going to bring a lot of excitement to our program. We return most of our players from the previous year while utilizing some other players who helped us on special teams and on offense last season. Our kids are so talented and their work ethic in the offseason is going to help us achieve success. I’m looking forward to recreating our success from last season while also setting new goals for the upcoming year. I believe if we set the standard high (the players) will reach to achieve it because they are hungry for more success.”
Brett Sloan)
Meanwhile, Coach Lewis is returning home. Lewis, who is also a Clemson University graduate, was the offensive coordinator at Fort Bend Travis High School outside of Houston, TX, for four years and at Richland High near Fort Worth for the past three seasons, where he presided over some prolific offenses. According to Coach Sloan, Lewis has a “great offensive mind,” and he takes over a Woodruff offense that features Division 1 recruits in running back Aiden Gibson, tight end Kam Taylor, and a host of other talented players.
Lewis is ready to return to the Palmetto State to try and help bring a state championship to Woodruff for the first time since 1984.
“We’re excited to be back in the upstate (and) extremely grateful to be near family and friends,” he said. “We think the community of Woodruff is special. Between the community, school, student-athletes, and the culture Coach Sloan has created within the football program, we have a chance to do great things this season and beyond.”
Coach Sloan is confident in Woodruff’s new coordinators. Having already coached with Lilly for two years and also knowing what Coach Lewis brings to the table, Sloan sees potential for a special season for the Wolverines.
“I am very excited about Coach Lilly taking on the coordinator role for our defense,” says Sloan. “Coach Lilly has done a great job with our linebackers in the two seasons he has been here. He is unbelievably intelligent and has his guys play fast and physical. I look forward to him bringing that same demeanor to our entire defensive unit.”
Sloan continued, “Coach Lewis brings a wealth of experience in big-time Texas football. He is one of the smartest offensive minds I have ever been around. He is going to be a great asset to the Wolverine program.”
Author: gmitchell85
