JOHNSTON - An already heated local rivalry just got hotter.

Doug Painter, current Athletic Director/Offensive Coordinator, will be leaving STHS, to take over the Saluda High football program. Painter will finish out the school year at Thurmond and then proceed as the Athletic Director/Head Coach of Saluda High.

Mr. Painter has been the offensive coordinator of Strom Thurmond, since 2006, when Gary Smallen left for Coastal Carolina. He will take over the position, which was most recently held by Wayne Bell, who was let go after compiling an 18-33 record in his first 4 years at Saluda.

Rebel Head Coach Lee Sawyer (former front runner for the Greenwood Head Coaching job, but who elected to stay at STHS) said that this really hurts, due to the loss of another coach, Donnie Woosley, (offensive lineman coach) because of budget cuts.

More importantly, Sawyer says this is like losing one of your best friends. He and Painter have worked together for many years and have become close friends on and off the field.

At this point, it is not clear who will take over as Athletic Director or Offensive Coordinator for the Rebels this fall. According to Sawyer, no matter who gets the job, he doesn’t think there will be any changes to the offense or defense this year.

Painter has years of head coaching experience, compiling a 95-88 overall record. He won a state title at Aiken High in 1992 and his last head coaching job came in 2004, when he was at Laurens High.

Coach Sawyer has been elected as an assistant coach for the North/South Allstar game this year.