LEXINGTON, SC — Lexington County School District One Superintendent Karen Woodward announces that Barry Harley, athletic director and head football coach for Gilbert High, plans to retire effective June 30, 2016.
GHS Principal Ann O’Cain said, “Although we are all aware of Barry Harley’s extensive athletic knowledge and love of football, it is not his only passion. His way of inspiring students to be their very best on the field, court and in life is a special gift. His wisdom, honesty and remarkable ability to help others enabled him to be a tremendous mentor to our students as well as young teachers and coaches. He will be missed at Gilbert High.”
Harley, who has 35 years of experience in public education, began his career in 1981 as a biology, physical science and physical education teacher, and assistant football coach, head track coach and head varsity baseball coach at Saluda High School.
In 1984, he joined the Irmo High School staff as a driver education teacher and assistant varsity football coach and assistant track coach. Then in 1988, he became the head varsity football coach and athletic director at St. John’s High School in Darlington. He moved to Westminster to serve as the head varsity football coach and athletic director at West Oak High School in 1995. Harley served as assistant principal at Chapin High School from 2000–2002.
Harley joined the Newberry County School District as head varsity football coach and athletic director at Mid Carolina High School in Prosperity in 2002, where he also taught driver education and weight training.
In 2005, Harley joined Lexington County School District One as athletic director and head varsity football coach at Gilbert High School. Under his leadership the GHS football team consistently qualified for football playoffs in 2A (six of seven years) and 3A (two of four years.)
Currently in his 11th year at GHS, some of Harley’s favorite memories include celebrating three baseball state championships and individual state champions in golf, track and wrestling, receiving the South Carolina High School League Region Sportsmanship Award three times, and growing the athletic facilities by adding a new football and soccer stadium, baseball stadium, track facility, weight training facility, tennis facility and renovating the softball field.
During his tenure at GHS, Harley added many sports teams including middle school baseball, girls golf, middle school softball, middle school volleyball and wrestling.
As 2A contenders, Gilbert High finished regularly in the Top 10 State Athletic Director’s Cup, earning over 50 region titles from 2005–2015.
Coach Harley has been a region coach of the year five times, region athletic director four times, North/South All-Star assistant coach and head coach, and Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas assistant football coach. He served on the South Carolina Athletic Administration Board for four years.
Harley holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Presbyterian College and a Master of Education in health education from the University of South Carolina.
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