By Thomas Grant Jr.
A new D.A.D. will supervise Lexington School District One sports starting this fall.
On Monday, the board approved the hiring of Garrett Knight as District Athletics Director. He is the third person to serve the position first established by David Bennett and most recently Chad Leaphart.
“I plan to continue building strong, intentional relationships with all stakeholders—coaches, student-athletes, parents, administrators, and the community,” Knight said. “Consistent and transparent communication will be a priority, ensuring alignment across all schools. Most importantly, I will advocate for both our high schools and middle schools, working to provide equitable resources and opportunities that allow every athletic program to thrive at a high level.
Knight comes over from Westwood High School where he’s served as athletics director. During his tenure, he expanded opportunities for student-athletes by establishing boys and girls swim programs, developing strength and performance teams and supporting the launch of girls flag football.
Knight also implemented “Redhawk 101,” an academic support initiative designed to help student-athletes succeed in the classroom. In April, he was named the 2025-26 Class 5A AD of the Year by the S.C. Athletic Administrators Administration Class 5A Athletics Director of the Year.
Prior to Westwood, Knight spent three years at Great Falls High School. He established new programs including girls volleyball and boys golf, and introduced an after-school nutrition program to support student-athlete performance and wellness.
Knight also served as a varsity assistant football coach and strength and conditioning coach, as well as a former middle and high school teacher.
He now takes over one of the largest districts in the state with three Class 5A schools.
“Leaving “The Castle” will be extremely difficult,” Knight said. “The relationships built there mean a great deal to me, and those connections are what make a place special. From my coaches to the student-athletes, administration to district security and custodians, everyone was like a family, and I will miss the daily interaction. At the same time, the opportunity to grow and make a broader impact made this the right step professionally.”
Since accepting the position, Knight has had numerous conversations with Bennett. He also looks forward to having a smooth transition from Leaphart and continuing the strong foundation already in place.
