Whale Branch names alum, former NFL player as its new football coach
Dee Delaney had a standout football career at Whale Branch High School. Now, he’ll be leading the school’s football program.
Whale Branch named Delaney as its new football coach Wednesday. He replaces Willie White, who was the school’s interim coach last season. White took over for longtime coach Jerry Hatcher, who coached from 2012-24.
Delaney, a 2013 Whale Branch graduate, was a four-sport athlete for the Warriors and member of the school’s state championship track team. But it was his play on the football field that earned him a college scholarship and spot in the National Football League.
Delaney was a defensive back and receiver at Whale Branch. As a senior, he caught 35 passes for 899 yards and 14 touchdowns, and picked off three passes. He was a North-South All-Star game selection.
Delaney signed with The Citadel out of high school before transferring to Miami for his senior year. At The Citadel, he was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection and was named an Associated Press All-American during his junior year. Delaney’s 13 interceptions are second in Bulldogs’ history.
Delaney spent his final season with the Hurricanes and was part of Miami’s squad that played in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
The Seabrook native signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and was on an NFL roster for seven different teams from 2018-24. His best success came with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2021-23, where he played in 49 games, had three interceptions and made 71 tackles.
Whale Branch is coming off a 3-8 season last year and will be moving down to Class A next year as part of the 2026-28 S.C. High School League realignment.
SC Football Coaching Openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
AC Flora — Ken Floyd — TBA
Belton-Honea Path — Russell Blackston — TBA
Chapin — Ryan Cole — Cory Helms
Chester — Victor Floyd — TBA
Clover — Perry Woolright — TBA
Colleton County — Adam Kinloch — Bradley Adams
Conway — Josh Pierce — Jody Jenerette
Goose Creek — Jason Winstead — TBA
Green Sea Floyds — Patrick Martin — TBA
Lake Wylie — (School opens in 2026) — N/A — Nick Pelham
Liberty — Paul Sutherland — Bobby Ruff
McCormick — Leroy Collier — TBA
Marion — Brian Hennecy — TBA
May River — Richard Bonneville — TBA
Ninety-Six — Matthew Bennett — Austin Sargent
North Myrtle Beach — Greg Hill — Perry Woolbright
Pelion — Cory Helms — TBA
St. James — Tommy Norwood — Stephen Cagle
Sumter — Mark Barnes — TBA
Union County — Quinnon Isom — Bryan Robinson
Wagener-Salley — Blaze Gillespie — TBA
Whale Branch — Willie White (interim) — Dee Delaney
White Knoll — Nick Pelham — Victor Floyd
