A familiar face will be back on the sidelines in football in 2026, but will be wearing different colors.
Former Fort Mill High assistant football coach Dennis Stokes has been hired to be the defensive coordinator for Nation Ford football.
Stokes was an assistant at Fort Mill for six seasons before spending the past two years at Peachtree Ridge in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Peachtree Ridge finished 7-4 last year in Georgia’s 6A classification.
Stokes recently moved back to the area with his family and was looking to get back into coaching in the area.
“I was looking debating on going to Blythewood and after talking to (head coach James) Martin, it wasn’t for me,” he said.
Stokes was actually playing golf when Nation Ford head coach Jake Bentley called him inquiring about his interest in the job.
“He was like we might have an opening do you want to sit down and talk about it,” he said. “I felt like Nation Ford was the best move for me. You have to make the best decision for you and your family.”
Stokes said he will be in the building at Nation Ford starting sometime in August, but right now is just concentrating on getting acclimated with the Falcons’ schemes. Stokes worked in security at Fort Mill High, but feels like he will have some sort of support role next school year.
“I want to get all of our football installs taken care of,” he said. “I think we could potentially do big things. They have some good athletes. We have real good community support right now.”
Stokes also was head track coach at Fort Mill High for a time, but said he will be just concentrating on football to begin with.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
