Coach John McKissick of Summerville HS Honored as Panthers HS Coach Of The Week - December 13, 2007

By Tyler Wessel

The Carolina Panthers have named Coach John McKissick of Summerville High School (Summerville, SC) as a 2007 Coach of the Week recipient. The program recognizes outstanding high school coaches that have a positive influence in the communities and schools which they serve. In addition to receiving this award, a $1,000 donation from the Panthers and the National Football League will be made to the school's athletic department.

Coach McKissick began coaching at Summerville High School in 1952 and has not looked back. He is a legend in the coaching arena. With over 550 career wins, he holds more wins than any other football coach at any level: high school, college, or professional. He has been named national high school football coach of the year three different times, and in 1990, he entered the National High School Hall of Fame.

This season, McKissick led the Green Wave to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the AAAA, Division I state championship game. He has been to the South Carolina state championship game fourteen times in his career and has won ten of those contests.

For an 81-year old coach who has held the same position for over fifty years and won that many championships, has the job ever become too routine? "No," says McKissick. "It's new to most of the players that are on that team each of those years, and so when they get excited, I get excited."

His wife Joan echoes those sentiments, "Working with those young kids really keeps him going, keeps him on his feet and pretty healthy." Coach McKissick has coached approximately 3,000 high school football players in his career. He has become a father - or perhaps grandfather - figure to many of his players, a fact displayed by the sheer number of phone calls or office visits he receives from former players, just so they can spend some time with their beloved coach.

Coach McKissick and his wife have established an endowed scholarship that is awarded annually to a Green Wave football player who is continuing his education at the collegiate level. The scholarship is awarded to a player who has not received an athletic scholarship and who is excelled academically while exhibiting high personal character.

"[McKissick] is such a man of integrity," says Roger Lee of the Summerville Journal Scene. "People in the community just love him. Even though he has won all of those games, he is still very approachable; he returns phone calls and is just always in a good mood."

Even at the age of 81, Coach McKissick does not plan to retire anytime soon. As Lee points out, "He is Green Wave football." The Carolina Panthers would like to congratulate John McKissick and the Green Wave for their successful season and wish them continued success.