JOHNSTON – For the third time in five years Strom Thurmond will be losing an offensive coordinator.

Chad Leaphart has accepted the head coaching position at Swansea High School.

Leaphart, who has been an assistant football coach at Strom Thurmond since 2000, says this is what all assistants strive for. He hates to leave STHS, but is excited about the opportunity of running his own team.

Leaphart stated this cannot really be considered a homecoming even though he is originally from Lexington County. Chad is a Gilbert High School alum and that means he will now be coaching at his alma mater’s fiercest rival (Swansea).

“Swansea appealed to me because of their history and tradition,” he said. “They won multiple state titles in the 1990’s but have fallen off somewhat over recent years. They remind me a lot of Thurmond and I hope to rebuild their program, just like Coach Sawyer did here in 2004. I know it will not happen over night, but if I can get the kids to buy into the program and their rich tradition, then I can instill the work ethic and things in them that it takes to be successful. With hard work, getting the kids to come out, doing what is right and being committed to the program, I know we can be successful.”

Leaphart follows in the footsteps of Gary Smallen and Doug Painter. Both are his predecessors at the Thurmond Offensive Coordinator position and have moved onto higher profiled jobs. Smallen left after the 2005 season to become offensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina and Painter took over as head coach for Saluda High in 2009.

Strom Thurmond head coach Lee Sawyer, a former assistant at Swansea, stated that this was a bittersweet move. He is proud of Chad and actually recommended him for the job but hates to see him leave Thurmond.

“It pains me to see the shape that a once proud program like Swansea is in now, but I know Coach Leaphart can turn things around down there,” Sawyer said. “We are going to miss him here, but as I told my team, we will keep rocking and rolling and will be ready when the season starts. At this point I don’t know who will replace Chad, but I will be looking for someone that is strong on coaching the offensive line.”

Chad will be the head coach and offensive coordinator at Swansea. He will not be taking any Thurmond assistants with him, but will be calling on friends and former coaching partners from around the state, in putting together a staff.

Swansea finished 2009 with an overall record of 2-8 and has not had a winning record since 2003.