A rumor that began during the spring came to fruition on Wednesday when Summerville High School baseball coach Banks Faulkner announced to his players that he would be stepping down as head coach effective immediately.
Speculation is that Faulkner, who led Summerville to the Class AAAA state championship in May, will be approved as the new head coach at Blythewood High School on Thursday night. Faulkner declined comment on his future coaching endeavors.
Faulkner spent two seasons as Summerville’s head coach, posting a 52-11 record.
“I loved my time at Summerville and truly loved these kids that I had the opportunity to coach,” said Faulkner, who previously spent three seasons as the pitching coach at Blythewood and also was the head coach at Wando for one season (2012). “This is an extremely difficult day for me to resign as head baseball coach at Summerville High School but the timing was right for me to pursue other potential opportunities. The past two years have been two years I will never forget.”
Faulkner inherited a solid program with several prospects when he arrived at Summerville. His 2015 team was one of the state’s best, finishing with a 25-4 record. However, the Green Wave fell short in their bid to win the state title, losing in the district championship to Sumter.
Following that loss, in an interview with The Post and Courier, Faulkner guaranteed a state championship for Summerville during his tenure as head coach. The 2016 Green Wave made good on his prediction by beating J.L. Mann in the finals in May.
“First off, I would like to thank (principal) Kenny Farrell and Coach (John) McKissick for giving me this incredible opportunity. Leading the Green Wave baseball program has been an honor and a privilege. I would also like to thank Brion Rutherford for his support and guidance this year as my athletic director. Summerville will always be a special place to me.”
Rutherford expressed appreciation for what Faulkner brought to Summerville baseball in his short tenure with the team.
“I certainly appreciate the hard work and passion that he brought to this program,” Rutherford said. “He instilled in our players a great work ethic and our team played with great emotion and guts all season. We wish him all the best.”
Faulkner was named The Post and Courier’s 2016 All-Lowcountry baseball coach of the year and senior pitcher Bo Gobin was named the All-Lowcountry baseball player of the year.
“I would like to thank all my coaches and players for their dedication, hard work and loyalty,” Faulkner said. “Because of their sacrifices and efforts this program has become a premier program in the state of South Carolina, culminating in the state championship this season.”
The tragic death of senior baseball player Tripp Rabon in December became a motivating force for Faulkner and his team this spring. Faulker began the “All In for Tripp” campaign, raising money through t-shirt sales to high school programs across the state. The campaign raised more than $10,000 for a memorial scholarship in Rabon’s name.
“The Tripp Rabon fund is the thing I am most proud of during my time here at Summerville,” Faulkner said. “It is my hope that what we started this season will be something that continues for many years into the future. It is something very close to my heart and I will never forget him or his family.”
The Dorchester 2 school district website already had posted a job opening for a head baseball coach at Summerville before Faulkner addressed his team. Rutherford will immediately begin a search for a new coach and said he hopes to have a coach in place by the first week of July.
“We will find the best man to lead our young men and I am fairly confident that we will attract some quality coaches for this position,” Rutherford said.
Long-time junior varsity coach Alan Bridges is rumored to be a top candidate. Bridges served as the varsity head coach in 2014 when head coach Burt Bazzle stepped down. Bridges was a significant factor in bringing Faulkner to Summerville.
Former Pinewood Prep head coach Phil Tobin — an assistant under Faulkner for the last two seasons — is expected to remain a key member of the future coaching staff as well.
