The Colleton County School District announced Kristopher Howell as the new head Cougar Football coach in a press release dated Wednesday April 21. Coach Howell served as the Cougar’s coaching staff since 2018 and most recently as the offensive coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach.
The CCSD press release stated the following:
Howell has over twenty years of athletic coaching experience, having worked as an assistant football coach, offensive coordinator, head strength and conditioning coach, and head wrestling coach.
CCSD received 50 applications of interest for the position of Head Football Coach. Applications were rated on the categories of: responsibilities/accomplishments, experience in leadership roles, statement responses, additional certifications, coaching experience, teaching experience, and any other responsibilities. This was done by the school administration team and district athletic administration team. After this process was completed, 11 applicants were selected to proceed to interviews.
First round interviews were held with the 11 selected candidates on March 30 and 31, with nine individuals ranging from district employees to community members serving on the interview panel.
After this detailed interview process, the top five candidates were selected to move forward to the second round interviews/Q&A.
Second round interviews were held with the top five candidates on April 7. After these additional interviews, the top three candidates were selected to move forward to the final round of interviews/Q&A.
Kristopher Howell, Adam Kinloch and Michael Rentz were selected as the final three candidates for the head football coach position. Howell, Kinloch and Rentz met one on one with John Tindal, interim Superintendent of CCSD, for their final interviews April 14.
Coach Howell played collegiately for Chowan University (1994-1998), located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, where he was a three-year letterman and started two years at quarterback. At Chowan University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and would earn his Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University (2006-2008). In 2012-2013, he completed his add-on certification in physical education.
Howell holds a valid South Carolina Department of Education Certification (2014-2021) in the areas of English, Secondary Principal, Secondary Supervisor and Physical Education.
In his position at Colleton County High School (2018-2021), Howell served as a physical education teacher, offensive coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach. His other duties included constructing and implementing weekly offensive game plans; Implementing practice plans while coaching all offensive positions; teaching and coaching assistant coaches in new offensive strategies and techniques; creating and implementing summer workout programs; managing after-school workout program; and training football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, and track athletes.
His previous coaching experience includes: Calhoun County High School 2017-18 (defensive coordinator, head strength and conditioning coach); Green Sea Floyds High School 2013-17 (offensive coordinator, defensive line coach (2013-14 season), assistant strength and conditioning coach); Pendleton High School 2008-12 (assistant football coach - defensive backs, quarterbacks, and defensive linemen, assistant strength and conditioning coach, head wrestling coach); Wren High School 2007-2008 (assistant football coach – quarterbacks and running backs, assistant strength and conditioning coach); East Clarendon High School 2004-2005 (offensive coordinator/assistant football coach – quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs, linebackers, head strength and conditioning coach); Southampton High School 1998-2004 (offensive coordinator and assistant football coach – quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, head strength and conditioning coach).
Editor’s Note: The Press and Standard requested resumes and presentations for the final candidates from the Colleton County School District via a Freedom of Information Request on April 3, 2021.
In accordance with South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 30, the Colleton County School District has 30 days to respond. Once they respond and submit our requested information, we will publish additional articles on the final candidates for this position.
