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And now he's taking a step to ensure it doesn't become the norm.
Singleton, along with the Island Recreation Center, is joining forces with Hilton Head Gators youth football this season with the goal of making the Gators a feeder program of sorts for Hilton Head High in the future.
"Eight or 10 years ago, I was saying that we need to do a better job as coaches with getting the younger kids working on the same things we're working on at the high schools," Singleton said. "... And now it's come to light. Here it is in living color.
"I think when you look at the big programs, that's one common reason why they've been successful every year. They have these feeder programs."
The Gators have had their share of success since Maynard Barker founded the program in 1969 as a benchmark for equal opportunity play. The teams, which have produced nearly 30 college athletes, have stuck around 41 years later and now have three age groups (12-13, 10-11 and 8-9).
Singleton emphasized that his goal is not to disrupt the success of the Gators but rather help them reach a new level. The Hilton Head High coach will lead a new board of directors for the Gators, with help from Island Recreation Center executive director Frank Soule.
"I'm not going to be the guy that comes in and calls plays," he said. "I want to be the guy that helps enhance the foundation again and make them more relevant by providing the resources we have at the high school."
That was on display Saturday afternoon at Hilton Head High, where Singleton and his fellow high school coaches, as well as former college coach Larry Beckish, demonstrated various teaching drills with Gator football coaches on hand to watch.
"I think it's a great thing. We've been talking about doing this for years and years," said James Franklin, a Gators coach who played at Hilton Head High. "A lot of the big schools upstate have been doing it for a long time. We decided if it's benefiting them, we should make it benefit us. This is a big step in the right direction."
From the outside eye, the changes to the Gators program will look minimal, Singleton predicted. But the teams will follow a different course of action throughout their seasons -- primarily with their terminology.
Singleton said he will offer coaches a handful of plays -- basic forms of ones he currently runs at the high school -- with the idea that Gators coaches will instill them into the kids' minds at an early age.
"It's very huge. I think it's going to help the kids a lot," said Edward Murray, who is entering his seventh year as a Gators coach. "Some of the kids think they should leave the Gators program when they get older, but now maybe they will stay because they know we're teaching the same concepts as the high school.
"They know if they want to get on the field when they're in high school, this will be the place to learn how to do that."
TO REGISTER FOR GATORS FOOTBALL
When: Monday through Aug. 20
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Barker Field
Cost: $75
Notes: Scholarships are available
