It may not look like it, but Inman Sherman has retired as head coach of the South Sumter Raiders. It’s just that when spring football rolled around, he found himself out on the football field, filling in as the running back coach.
“He can’t get away from the game Forever a Raider,” joked quarterback Malik Bell.
The post is just temporary, filling in during the spring. But it just goes to show Coach Sherman truly cares about the future of the Raiders. Even the reason behind his retirement, speaks to the good of the program.
“Over 60, I don’t have the energy I had when I was 40. So just to be fair to the young coaches and the players, the head coach needs to be somebody with a lot of energy,” said Sherman.
Sherman has been at the helm since 1984, leading the raiders to 17 district titles. Now, he hands the reins to longtime defensive coordinator, Ty Lawrence.
“My first thought was not to screw it up. It’s an honor to follow Coach Sherman, it was an honor to coach with Coach Sherman for so many years. I learned so much stuff from Coach Sherman. Not just about X’s and O’s but how to handle people, how to work hard, just the little things,” said Coach Lawrence.
The Raiders program will continue on, much the same way it has the last 32 years. Nothing glamorous, and yet -- something special, all the same.
“Once you become a part of this school you can’t really cut yourself loose from it,” said Sherman. “It’s a small community; everybody in this community has to back it for a chance to be successful.”