By Thomas Grant Jr.
This past week saw Lexington School District One lose one head football coach while filling another vacant position.
Last Tuesday, Corey Helms resigned as Pelion head coach to take over the Chapin football program. On Friday, longtime head coach Victor Floyd was introduced as the new sideline leader at White Knoll.
“From a district standpoint and Lexington School District One, we are proud to have Coach Vic Floyd here at White Knoll High School,” Lexington School District One Athletics Director Chad Leaphar said. “Coach Floyd is a championship-winning coach. But more importantly, he’s a great leader of men and we’re excited about the things he’s going to do for White Knoll High School and in the community here and certainly impacting the young men in this football program. We couldn’t be prouder and more excited for what coach has in store for the Timberwolves program.”
A graduate of North Carolina A&T, Floyd began his coaching career in 1998 at C.A. Johnson High School. He then moved to Dudley (N.C.) before returning to the Palmetto State in 2004 for the first of two coaching stints at Chester High School.
Floyd led Chester to two state title game appearances in 2007 and 2018. The latter won the school’s first state title and finished with a 15-0 record.
He referred to his hiring at White Knoll as going “full circle” as he once again is back in the Midlands.
“You have resources, you have players, you have everything you need to win championships,” Floyd said. “I’m kind of like the kid on Christmas Eve – wake up and look what’s under the tree. So, I’m excited to see what’s all that’s under the tree and excited to have an opportunity to lead these young men.”
Floyd takes over from Nick Pelham, who led the Timberwolves to 39 victories, a Region 4-5A title in 2023 and Class 5A state runner-up the same year. They also handed Dutch Fork its only region loss since 2016.
Pelham resigned to become the new head coach at Lake Wylie High School.
Floyd now wants to take the Timberwolves to “The Next Step”. He compared Region 4-5A, which has sent two teams to the Class 5A finals three consecutive years with Dutch Fork winning each time to a powerhouse region he coached in Georgia.
“There’s a huge mountain that everyone talks about called Dutch Fork and you’ve got to have the mentality and belief that you can get over the hump or take the next step,” Floyd said. “And, like I said, that’s between the ears. That’s that piece of toughness I was talking about. Mental toughness. We’ve just got to develop that and we’ll be fine.”
Along with coaching football, Floyd wants to mold young players into productive, responsible adults. He preaches five principles called the “Wolf Way” that he wants his players to embrace:
Commitment
Discipline
Sacrifice
Toughness
Unity
“Our plan for our young men is to prepare for life,” Floyd said. “Everyone won’t be a professional football player, but everyone will be a professional adult in some form, shape of fashion.”
Floyd is scheduled to officially begin at White Knoll on Feb. 12.
Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.
