Lamar pushes forward
The 2023 Lamar High School football team. PHOTO BY STEPHEN L. BURRIS
By Jordan Grimsley, General Manager
The News & Press recently sat down with Lamar’s new Head Football Coach, Stephen Burris, for a brief interview ahead of this years upcoming football season. Head Coach Burris comes from a vast knowledge of football and a winning resume to prove it. Stephen Burris was a student athlete at Northwestern High School located in Rock Hill, SC, but his love for the game didn’t stop after playing his last snap. Coach Burris attended Coastal Carolina University where he graduated, upon graduation, he returned to the sidelines at Socastee High School. For 3 years he served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Braves JV Program before leaving for a Strength and Conditioning Position at Conway High School. After the 2012 Season, he accepted a coaching position at York High School. Coach Burris took a break from coaching for 1 year before travelling to Connecticut to become the Varsity Offensive Coordinator at Norwich Free Academy. At the end of the 2021 Season, he moved back to South Carolina and took the Offensive Coordinator position at Ridge View until he was hired as Lamar’s Head Football Coach in 2023.
Coach Burris spoke about the difference in coaching a larger school and a 1A school in Lamar. Lamar comes from a winning tradition and their past accomplishments speak for themselves. Winning is the standard in Lamar, and under Burris leadership, they are expected to only take steps forward. Coach Burris Quoted, “The expectations here are high, but, the support in this community matches these expectations.” Coach Burris made a special mention of two coaches that were kept on staff. He could not say enough positive things about Coach Hayden Wilkes who he attributes keeping the pieces together until he could come down. Coach Burris said Coach Allan Poole was the cornerstone of this organization and a 40-year veteran for Silver Fox Football.
The expectation of the Lamar Football team is to win a State Championship but these things don’t happen by chance. The Silver Foxes work day in and day out to deserve the right to wear the uniform and carry on the Lamar Football legacy. The players must be fully invested in what it takes to be a champion, and hard work is nothing shy of this.
The Varsity players gave Coach Burris 5 keys to a successful season after the break in summer activities. These five words were : Loyalty, Accountability, Smart, Discipline, Reliable. All of these are what makes successful football players, but carry over into life and make successful adults way after their last snap of football is played.
The News & Press thanks Coach Burris for his time and we wish the best of luck to the Lamar Silver Foxes this fall.
-Jordan Grimsley, General Manager