District Names New Lexington High Athletic Director, Head Football Coach

Lexington High School's new athletic director and varsity head football coach for the 2013-2014 school year is Joshua T. Stepp, Lexington County School District One announced Wednesday.

Stepp, who is currently head football coach at Dreher High School in Richland One, accepted the position after the Lexington One Board of Trustees approved his hire at a special-called meeting Tuesday.

Stepp is replacing from the athletic director and head coach position at Lexington High School.

Stepp has 6 years of coaching experience. Over the last three years as head football coach and offensive coordinator at Dreher, Stepp took the Dreher football team from a 0-10 season in 2010 to a 3-8 season in 2011 (including a playoff appearance in Round 1) and an 8-2 season in 2012 - the best season Dreher has had in more than a decade. His 2012 offense consistently ranked among the top in the Midlands all season.

While at Dreher, Stepp has coached 13 All-Region players, one All-State player and one North-South All-Star and had six players go on to play college football.

He began his career in 2007 at Pelion High School as the football program’s quarterbacks coach, varsity assistant baseball coach and physical education teacher.

In 2008, Stepp moved to Blythewood High School in Richland School District Two as varsity quarterbacks coach, head of strength and conditioning coach and physical education teacher.

In 2009, Stepp moved to Rice Creek Elementary School as a physical education teacher while serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Spring Valley High School in Richland School District Two.

Stepp played quarterback at Pelion High School where he was named 1999–2001 All State, All Region and All Area, 2000–2001 All Region in both basketball and baseball, 2000–2002 All State baseball, member of the North-South 2002 baseball game, 2001 Shrine Bowl Offensive MVP. In 2012, he was inducted into the Pelion High School Hall of Fame.

Stepp went to Furman University from 2002–2004 where he played football and was named Southern Conference Player of the Week and Southern Conference Freshman of the Week in 2003.

He transferred to Newberry College where he served as team captain for three years, had 32 career starts and holds every passing record for career, season and total offense there. While at Newberry, he led the school to its first South Atlantic Conference Championship in 2006.

He was also named to the South Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll 2004–2006, received the prestigious W.L. Laval Award, was named N.C. Team Most Valuable Player 2004–2006, D2Football.com All-American in 2006, South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week 10 times, National Player of the Week in 2005, South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, Harlin Hill (Division II Heisman) Candidate 2006, and South Carolina All-State Football Team and Daktronics All Super Region Team Quarterback in 2006. He also led the nation in passing efficiency (all divisions) in 2006.

Stepp received a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification in physical education from Newberry College while graduating Cum Laude and a master’s degree in education/curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix.

Submitted by Lexington One.