MEET OUR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS
GO EAGLES!
BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR LINC LYLES
How long have you been an Athletic Director in Beaufort County?
I have been the Athletic Director at Beaufort High School for the last four years.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
It is a challenge trying to balance and manage twenty-two sports and over 500 student athletes at Beaufort High School.
Beaufort High School has a full slate of Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. The Boys Teams: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Swimming, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling. The Girls Teams: Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
There are so many. Primarily seeing the relationships you develop with students and adults at our school and community grow stronger to the point they are bonded for life. That is probably the most rewarding aspect of the job for me.
What do you want most to impart to your student athletes?
I want them to really know that your education in a rapidly changing world will always open doors for you no matter what barrier or challenge you encounter. Participating in sports is only a plus.
What should we look for from your students and teams this year?
They have the self-motivation and high energy to be led by our coaches and compete on a daily basis at the highest level.
GO EAGLES!
BEAUFORT ACADEMY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR NICK FIELD
For Nick Field, athletic director at Beaufort Academy, a typical day starts early and ends late. Long hours are nothing new to the former Marine who not only oversees the growing athletic department at Beaufort Academy, but also works as an assistant coach for the boy’s basketball team. He also owns and operates the Beaufort Hustle, the largest club basketball team in Beaufort County.
Field arrive in Beaufort as a member of the United States Marine Corps and began coaching after an injury. After leaving the service he stayed in Beaufort and coached at Bolden Middle School, Riverview Charter School and Beaufort High School before moving to Beaufort Academy.
Field explained why he decided to leave Beaufort High for Beaufort Academy. “After speaking with Dr. Durbin I knew I had to join the staff at Beaufort Academy. It was refreshing to find a place where every decision is student centered and is focused on what is best for the kids. I want to help kids succeed and I knew that Beaufort Academy is the best place to prepare kids not only for college, but to be leaders in every area for the rest of their lives.”
Field was equally excited about the future of Beaufort Academy athletics.
In 2017 Beaufort Academy won the President’s Cup awarded to the most successful athletic program in each classification. Last season they followed that up with five more state championships. This season we’ve won our first ever football state championship, the girl’s tennis team won its second consecutive state championship and both of our basketball teams finished the season strong. With experienced and accomplished coaches, a great administration and a supportive parent community, Beaufort Academy will reach new heights. We have added bowling, cheerleading and softball to the department this year and look forward to continuing to make Beaufort Academy the premier educational experience in Beaufort County.”
GO DOLPHINS!
BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WAYNE ALSTON
How long have you been a high school Athletic Director in Beaufort County?
I was hired last spring, so I have been at Battery Creek High School for almost a year.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Social media. I think it gives students instant gratification and rewards, but in real life, no one gives you anything, you have to earn it. On social media, students see overnight success, but in real life, success comes from the grind. The student that comes in first every day and is the last to leave every day, that student will achieve success.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
One of my biggest rewards is watching students and athletes grow into well-rounded community members.
What do you want most to impart to your student athletes?
Getting students to believe in anything is the hardest thing I do. I say to our students, Put it the time and work in everything you do. I see students who don’t hear “no” and they end up achieving their goals, athletic and otherwise.
What should we look for from your students and teams this year?
We have a good coaching staff and the students are really coming together. They like each other and they don’t mind going to practice! I am excited about soccer this year! The girls’ team has a lot of potential. I think we will see big things from the girl’s track team too. All of our teams are coming together and deserve support because every once in a while things turn into magic. We want family and fans to come and support every team. People compete harder when the community is behind them. Come see what we are doing!
GO WARRIORS!
WHALE BRANCH EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CARLOS CAVE
How long have you been an Athletic Director at Whale Branch?
I became the Athletic Director for Whale Branch Early College High School in 2011.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
I provide professional guidance to our coaches so they can impart quality instruction to our students. Between the boys and girls Junior Varsity and Varsity teams, we have about eighteen coaches so there is always a lot to do.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I just enjoy working with students, and coaching is the most rewarding work there is for me. It is rewarding to watch the young ladies and young men over time achieve success, to see their joy when they achieve a personal best or get to a regional level. Seeing students go from struggling at the beginning of the season, and really seeing their growth, that’s what is the most rewarding thing for a coach. I have had students who have gone on to excel in their professions come by and see me, and that’s rewarding for me, to see how coaching has positively impacted their lives.
What do you want most to impart to your student athletes?
For them to become productive citizens. A sport teaches teamwork, sportsmanship and how to cooperate with others. This gives the end result of being a productive citizen. All the adversity in sports makes you more prepared, the student athletes have more real-life experience.
What should we look for from your program and school teams this year?
All of our teams are young. We have enthusiastic young men and women doing their best to follow coaches, learning to do the little things well, and doing their best this year. It will be a good year.
Whale Branch Early College High School Athletic Director Carlos Cave was named the 2014 Athletic Director of the Year for Class A by the South Carolina Athletic Directors Association.
