"He’s a great coach. He’s got a good coaching staff. He’s got a great community. There isn’t any better community in the state than the Gilbert nation.””

former Gilbert head coach Marty Woolbright said about current head coach Chad Leaphart.

Head coach Chad Leaphart played linebacker and center at Gilbert High School 28 years ago the last time it reached the Lower State finals. 

It was the 3rd straight appearance for the Indians and final season under coaching legend Marty Woolbright. After losing in 1990 to eventual Class 2A Division II champion Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Gilbert fell in back-to-back years to Swansea, who won in 1992.  

On Friday, Leaphart and the Indians will look to earn that elusive victory at Zemp Stadium against fellow unbeaten Camden in the Class 3A Lower State final. 

“He’s got it turned around,” Woolbright said. “Chad does a great job. He’s a great coach. He’s got a good coaching staff. He’s got a great community. There isn’t any better community in the state than the Gilbert nation.”

Woolbright, a Chapin High and University of South Carolina graduate who also coached at Lower Richland and Clover high schools and was a Lexington High assistant, spent 10 seasons at Gilbert and won a school-record 67 games. His early success in incorporating weight room conditioning and on-field discipline and this created excitement for the program during his tenure. 

“We had a couple of good athletes,” said Woolbright, citing Michael and Ron Jones. “We had some kids that played really hard and the more you won, the harder they played and it kind of builds over a period of time.”

Since Leaphart’s return, the program has posted a 49-8 overall record with 3 region titles. His success working at Strom Thurmond and Swansea and work ethic as a player made Leaphart “the right man for the job, according to Woolbright.

“Chad worked hard in the weight room,” he remembered. “Chad was a physical ballplayer. He’s smart, played both ways. He knows how far he could push the kids and stuff like that. I think he brought that physical toughness back to Gilbert that they needed and they’ve got it going.

“Chad’s a great coach, but he’s also a better man." 

Woolbright still keeps an eye on football in Gilbert and especially Lexington, where his son Perry is the head coach and athletics director. He’ll definitely keep a watch to see if his former player and school can reach its 1st state final.