A longtime assistant coach and an alumnus will take over the Swansea High School football program this fall.
    Lexington School District Four announced the hiring of Charles Brent Wilder on Jan. 24.
    “It is great to welcome Coach Wilder back to Swansea High School,” Principal Shaun Jacques said in a statement. "As an alumnus, Coach Wilder has a passion for the Swansea program and has deep roots in the Lexington Four community. His focus on the success of our student athletes both in the classroom and on the field reflects our school’s vision to create empowered citizens who demonstrate both leadership and service. 
   "We look forward to Coach Wilder’s energy, organization, and vision of building one team, one family, and one Swansea.” 
   Wilder is the third Tigers' head football coach in the past 7 months. Eric Pack served as interim head football coach this past season and led Swansea to a 3-8 record and second-round appearance in the Class 3A playoffs.
   Pack replaced Gregory Wright, who was fired June 28 after 2 seasons with the Tigers. He currently has a defamation lawsuit filed against the school and Lexington County School District 4.
   A 1998 Swansea High graduate, Wilder spent the past 4 years as offensive coordinator and assistant athletics director at Saluda High School. He helped the Tigers post a 42-12 during that span, including 2 region titles and 3 consecutive Class 2A semifinal playoff appearances from 2015-17.
   Wilder’s offense set individual school records for rushing yards (2,132) in 2015 and rushing touchdowns (34) and scoring (40 points per game) in 2016. This year, Saluda reached the third round of the playoffs and averaged over 30 points per game. 
   Wilder’s 2018 passing offense set Saluda records for passing yards (2,866) and touchdowns (35) with five wide receivers each catching 20 or more passes. 
    Over the past decade in Saluda, Wilder has coached on both the offensive and defensive staffs, while also serving stints as head coach of the varsity baseball and junior varsity baseball programs. Previously, he coached the offensive and defensive line at Strom Thurmond and was the head varsity baseball coach at Strom Thurmond High School. 
Prior to that, Wilder started his coaching career at Swansea in 2003 as an assistant football, junior varsity baseball and basketball coach. 
“Serving as head football coach at Swansea High School is a dream come true and I cannot wait to get started," Wilder said. I look forward to serving our players, students, school, and community in the years to come. Go Tigers!”