By CINDY CROSBY
Cindyc4@yahoo.com
Colleton County High School Head Football Coach Coby Peeler announced his resignation from his coaching position effective Thursday, February 25, 2021. Peeler led the Cougars across four seasons (2017-2020) and compiled a 15-24 overall record and went 6-10 in Region VII-AAAA. In 2020, Peeler recorded a 4-3 record and finished 2-3 in conference play.
While at the helm of Cougar Football, Peeler lead Colleton County to three playoff appearances including a 2017 round one loss against North Myrtle Beach (59-36), a 2018 win in round one against Lower Richland (42-21) and a loss in round two against North Augusta (49-14) and a 2019 loss to Airport High School (21-14) in round one.
A press release dated February 25, 2021 and issued by Sean Gruber, coordinator of Communications for The Colleton County School District, stated the following:
“Colleton County High School Head Football Coach Coby Peeler announced on February 25 that he will be stepping down from his position. Peeler was hired by Colleton County School District Athletics in 2017. He compiled a 15-27 record over four seasons, with three playoff appearances and one playoff victory. Under Coach Peeler, the Cougars had their first winning season in 15 years. Colleton County School District Athletics wishes Coach Peeler the best in his future endeavors and would like to thank him for his contributions to the Cougars’ football program.”
Coach Coby Peeler met with his coaching staff and players on Thursday morning at Colleton County High School. He issued the following statement to The Press and Standard on Thursday morning:
“With a flood of emotions and mixed feelings, I am, on this day, the 25th of February 2021, announcing my resignation as the Head Football Coach at Colleton County High School. For four years I have poured myself into this team, and this community, and the time has come to step away and let someone else take the reins,” he said, in a written statement.
“I want to thank the people who supported me, and who gave me the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. Former Superintendent Dr. Franklin Foster, former principal Melissa Crosby, and former Athletic Director Leon Hammond, to you I am eternally grateful.”
“To the assistant coaches, I appreciate your work, and dedication, love and pride you poured into our kids and our program. To the players I want you to know, I love each and every one of you, and I’m not giving up on you. I expect great things from you in years to come. Thank you to the parents for sharing your children with me. They have blessed my life in such a profound way. I only hope I had one-tenth the impact on them that they did on me,” he said.
“I intend to teach here throughout the end of the year, spend time with my family and focus on them, and seek other career options. I am blessed by the people I have encountered, the friends I have made, and the lessons I have learned,” said Peeler, in a written statement.
According to the district press release, the search for a new head football coach will begin immediately. As of Thursday afternoon, the job was posted on the Colleton County School District Applitrack website.
