WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new person will be serving as the head football coach and athletics director at Gray Collegiate Academy after Adam Holmes announced he is resigning.
The first head football coach and athletics director since the school's 2014 opening, Holmes led the War Eagle football program to the 2021 Class 2A state championship and a runner-up finish a month ago in Orangeburg.
In a statement to his colleagues and supporters at Gray Collegiate Academy, Holmes wrote,
"As I reflect on the many successes at Gray over the past year, my mental, physical, and emotional health has suffered greatly," Holmes said. "It is time for me now to focus on my family and myself and see where this journey leads me professionally. There is interest out there in football and outside of football. When I knew I wanted to possibly venture outside of working at Gray, I spoke with [Principal Brian] Newsome and we both thought it was best to go ahead and step away so Gray can move on with the process of finding someone."
Gray Collegiate Academy has been at the forefront of the competitive balance debate concerning charter schools competing under the South Carolina High School League umbrella. GCA's region opponents in football refused to play the War Eagles this season, citing competitive balance concerns. Holmes filled the regular season schedule with out-of-state opponents. Gray Collegiate Academy rolled through the playoffs before dropping a hard-fought contest to Oceanside Academy in the 2A state championship a month ago at S.C. State's Dawson Bulldog Stadium in Orangeburg.
Next fall, the War Eagles will be moved to 4A under the new SCHSL rules concerning charter schools.
Considering Holmes took his program to Gaffney a couple of years ago, it is unlikely Holmes' departure was due to apprehension over the move to Class 4A.
Holmes will depart GCA with a 76-35 record with six region titles and the 2021 state title.
There are openings at Gilbert, Lugoff-Elgin, Swansea and now Gray Collegiate Academy.