Rodney Summers will be May River’s 1st football coach

When it comes to starting a football program, Rodney Summers has some experience.

Summers started the football program four seasons ago at Richland County’s Westwood High School. And now he’ll do the same at May River High School.

Principal J. Todd Bornscheuer announced Wednesday that Summers will coach the Sharks at May River, Beaufort County’s new high school in Bluffton set to open in August. The team will play in Region 8-AAA

“I always wanted to be back down near the coast,” Summers said. “I’ve always been a fan of the area. I think it was the right time to make the move, and when the opportunity arose, it was the love of the area and the coast that was the difference.”

Summers went 29-19 in his four seasons at Westwood, including a 9-4 mark this past season. His best year was in 2014 where the Redhawks won 11 games and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Greenwood. He took Westwood to the playoffs three times in four seasons.

He was the 2014 S.C. Coach of the Year when he led Westwood to 11 wins and the second round of the playoffs in just its third season of football and its first season in Class 4-A.

“I think it helped ... as far as starting a new program, there was a sense I was someone that’s gone through the proccess before,” Summers said. “Some of the challenges will be different, some will be the same.

“I hope I can take what I’ve learned in the four years at Westwood and make the May River program a successful one as soon as possible.”

Summers was also the 2014 S.C. Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year and 2014 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Art Baker State Coach of the Year.

Prior to coming to Westwood, Summers was an assistant at Richland Northeast, Ridge View and Conway.

Summers, a certified classroom teacher for 20 years, is a National Board certified teacher. In addition to football, he has coached basketball and soccer.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Coastal Carolina University and a master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Rodney Summers will be May River’s 1st football coach."