HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

It’s a “Brand” new era for football at Irmo High School.

On May 20, Lexington-Richland School District Five named Aaron Brand the program’s new head football coach.

“I am super excited about the opportunity of coming to School District Five and especially a school with such a tradition as Irmo High School,” Brand said. “I look forward to being a key component in helping Irmo continue in their winning ways and remain Irmo Strong.

“Go Yellow Jackets!”

Brand replaces Reggie Kennedy, who accepted the head football coaching job at Manning High School.

Kennedy went 20-36 in 5 seasons at the helm, during which he also served as the school’s athletics director.

Brand will only coach football as the school will name an athletics director at a later date.

Brand most recently served as the head football coach at Vance High School in Charlotte, NC, where he has coached his teams to successful seasons and was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2017.

In 5 seasons at Vance, Brand posted a record of 55-17. In 2018, the team was the Western Regional Champions and had the top-ranked defense in the state of North Carolina.

In 2014 and 2016, he was named the Mecka 8 Conference Coach of the Year.

He has coached more than 125 scholarship recipient student-athletes that are now participating on the college or professional level.

Previously, Brand coached at Mallard Creek High School, Independence High School, West Charlotte High School, West Mecklenburg High School, and Emory and Henry College.

It was during Brand’s stint as offensive coordinator at Independence that he worked for then-head coach Tom Knotts, now currently at Dutch Fork High School.

The two schools will meet Sept. 6 at W.C. Hawkins Stadium. Irmo opens the regular season Aug. 23 at Lexington.

“Coach Brand is the embodiment of vibrant energy with a passion to positively transform the culture of the football program,” Irmo High School Principal Dr. Robin Hardy said. “He communicates high expectations with emphasis on leadership and discipline on and off the field.”