For the third time in four seasons, Airport has a new head football coach.

Chris Napier will lead the Eagles in 2025 after former head coach and athletic director Shane Fidler resigned to become the athletic director at White Knoll.

Napier inherits a team that went 2-9 overall last season and finished near the bottom of their region standings. The Eagles made the playoffs but were blown out by region rival North Augusta in the first round.

 ”We’re building from the foundation,” Napier said. “We have a very young football team, but I can promise you that the future is bright at Airport.”

Since arriving on campus, Napier has been focused on building relationships and getting the team familiar with his brand of football.

He has tried his best to work in lessons on things outside of football. He feels it’s important to teach his players not just how to succeed in sports, but how to succeed in life as well.

“ Just showing ‘em that it’s not all about football,” Napier said. “ I just want to see the kids compete on and off the field, and if I can help them become better adults in life, then we’ve done our job as a coaching staff.”

Offense

Airport will field a young team this season.

Many of the team’s personnel are playing in their first or second year of varsity football. There is a lot of room for development on both sides of the ball. 

Kendrick Pearson and Richard Harley were two athletes Napier highlighted. The pair plays on both sides of the ball and is projected to be the top skill players on the team.

Pearson plays running back and linebacker. Harley is a receiver and cornerback.

Defense

Just like the offense, the Airport defense is also a younger, less experienced group.

Jonathan Brown and Justin Conyers will be the two guys to watch on this side of the ball. Brown is a rising senior and plays on the defensive line. Conyers plays linebacker.

Napier is looking forward to kicking the 2025 season off and seeing who else emerges as a top contributor and becomes a cornerstone to the culture he’s trying to build. 

“ I’m just really excited to be at Airport because it’s a great community,” he said. “We have world-class facilities, and I’m just glad I can be here for the long haul.”

2025 Airport Schedule 

Week 0 - vs. May River - Aug. 22

Week 1 - at Aiken - Aug. 29

Week 2 - at Orangeburg-Wilkinson - Sept. 5

Week 3 - at Westwood - Sept. 12

Week 4 - BYE

Week 5 - vs. South Aiken* - Sept. 26

Week 6 - vs Midland Valley* - Oct. 3

Week 7 - vs. Gray Collegiate* - Oct. 10

Week 8 - at North Augusta* - Oct. 17

Week 9 - at Gilbert* - Oct. 24

Week 10 - vs. Brookland-Cayce* - Oct. 30

Note: (*) indicates a game against a region opponent