rn and raised in Harleyville, Coach Leroy Riley has been in Colleton County for the past 37 years. His influence in the sports community can be found today even though he is not on the field whistle in hand.
Coach Riley’s road to Walterboro was fairly straight forward. He had been coaching high school football and was on the lookout for opportunities for a position as a head coach that would fit his situation. He saw the Walterboro High School coaching job was open, applied in late June, and he got the job. In addition to his coaching duties, while at Walterboro High School he taught economics and other subjects. He had also been hired on as the Athletic Director. His classroom tasks were gradually minimized and after some time his mainly taught the weightlifting classes. He was at Walterboro High School, and made the transition to Colleton County High School in 2002 and was at CCHS until he retired. After retirement from CCHS he worked one year at Colleton Preparatory Academy as Athletic Director.
A man of faith, Riley then went into the ministry. He pastored Lifesong Church and retired from pastoring there approximately 2022. However, he took a job teaching at Colleton Preparatory Academy again before retiring from Lifesong in 2015. Riley teaches history part-time at the school. Currently he instructs two world history classes to 9th grade and one American history class to 11th grade. Riley comments, “I really enjoy it, because I actually majored in history while I was in college, and was very serious about planning to teach it, but never really got the opportunity to teach. When I came here to do part time teaching, it was kind of interesting that I finally got to use my major. I thought I was not going to be able to use my major, but now I’ve been able to still put it to use. All those years of history and preparation didn’t go to waste. I just had about a 35 year wait to put it into action.”
Coach Riley attended college at Georgia Southern University. At that time the GSU did not have a football program, so Riley did not play college football. He did however play off guard and linebacker when he attended high school at Harleyville-Ridgeville High School.
Currently, in addition to his teaching duties at CPA, Coach Riley is the Ambassador for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Colleton County. He has served as a long-time FCA partner and volunteer and joined the FCA staff officially as a part-time Ambassador in the fall of last year. According to his staff spotlight on FCA’s Instagram, his favorite thing about FCA is “seeing God is at work with FCA, and I have the privilege of joining Him in His work.” Riley’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28; And we know that all things work together for good to them the love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The FCA has been active since 1954 and has challenged coaches and athletes on every level of play and every sport they can to reach their vision “to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes” and their mission “to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.” FCA’s focus is to serve local communities by “engaging, equipping, and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire, and change the work through the gospel.” This work takes the form of many programs such as campus meetings (huddles), sports camps, and team events. FCA helps develop athletes’ skills for their sport and their spiritual strength. Coach Riley is the Ambassador for Colleton County where he can be found almost everywhere in the sports community mentoring in a sports and spiritual capacity.
Riley is very quick to share credit in FCA’s work in Colleton County. He names Ralph Helmey, Pastor at Mt. Zion, Dan Vaugh, retired youth minister and retiree from CCSD, Steve Rhode, retired from CCSD, Jake Jacobs, Nolan Thomas, minister at Faith Church, Braxton Edwards, pastor at First Baptist of Walterboro, and Chase McCray, pastor at Ashton Baptist. Riley credits these men with the reach that FCA has had in Colleton County.
Outside CCSD, CPA, and FCA Coach Riley has been married to his wife Cindy (née Socha) for over 30 years. Mrs. Riley was an educator and administrator with CCSD for many years and now serves as the Executive Director for Colleton County First Steps. Mr. Leroy and Mrs. Cindy they have two sons, two daughters in law, two grandchildren and a third on the way in the fall of this year.
When asked what he would do if time and money were no object, Coach Riley gave the question a moment of thought. He said that he would be a secret philanthropist. He would also work his way through a “bucket list”. He additionally wants to do a more in-depth genealogy on his family. Finally, and probably above all those things, he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren which is an expected grandparent response, because grandparents are awesome.
Leroy Riley has been a solid presence in Colleton County with his goodness, faithfulness, and integrity. He is a good influence and mentor to students and athletes past and present, and he will continue to be whether on the field, in the classroom, or with FCA.
