“220 Days to WORK together to Restore the Roar ‘till Kick”

Off ’22.”

Batesburg-Leesville High School has its new head football coach for the 2022 season.

On Tuesday, the Lexington County School District 3 Board of Trustees unanimously approved the hiring of Gene Cathcart during its regularly scheduled meeting. He replaces Gary Adams, who led his alma mater to a 26-25 record in five seasons. 

Cathcart will officially begin work July 1. At 10:30 a.m. Thursday, he will appear in the school's Media Center for a press conference. 

“Thank you Superintendent Dr. Atkinson, Ass’t Superintendent Ralph Schmidt, Principal Sonya Bryant, A.D. Eric Gambrell+the Lexington Dist 3 BoE for allowing me the opportunity to become a Batesburg-Leesville Panther,” Cathcart wrote on his Twitter Feed. “220 Days to WORK together to Restore the Roar ‘till Kick-Off ’22.” 

Cathcart spent the past five years at Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Ga. He went 52-11 in five seasons with the Dragons, including back-to-back region titles and a Class 4A state runner-up, and previously served as athletic director and head football coach at Habersham Central High School in Mount Airy, Ga.

Cathcart also has experience at the high school and college level in South Carolina. 

He was head football coach and assistant athletic director at Seneca High School from 2014 to 15; athletic director and head football coach (2014-2015) and assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach (1997-2001) at Greenwood High School; offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Presbyterian College from 2001 to 2003; offensive coordinator and quarterback/wide receiver coach at Pickens High School from 1993 to 1997; offensive coordinator and quarterback/running back coach at Manning High School from 1992 to 1993; and offensive coordinator and quarterback/wide receiver coach at D.W. Daniel High School in Central from 1992 to 1993.

It was at Greenwood where Cathcart won three Class 4A Division II titles, two as an assistant (1999-2000) and one as head coach (2012). In all, Cathcart has won 10 region championships and competed for or won several state championship titles. 

He was named region, conference or area Coach of the Year 11 times in addition to being named statewide Coach of the Year once in Georgia and once in South Carolina. He was also named Upper State South Carolina or Northeast Georgia Coach of the Year five times, and a conference Athletic Administrator of the Year three times and a State Athletic Director of the Year finalist twice between his time in both states

After Cathcart’s hiring, Airport High School is the lone football coaching vacancy remaining in Chronicle Country.