GHS athletic director receives state award
March 23, 2016
Lexington County School District One congratulates Gilbert High School Athletic Director Barry Harley, who received the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association 3A Athletic Director of the Year 2015–2016 award.
Harley retires at the end of this school year from his position as athletic director and head football coach at GHS, where he has overseen athletic teams for 11 years. During his time at GHS, Indian athletic teams won three baseball state championships and individual state championships in golf, track and wrestling. GHS also received the South Carolina High School League Region Sportsmanship Award three times during his tenure.
GHS Principal Ann O’Cain reflected, “Although we are all aware of Barry Harley’s extensive athletic knowledge and love of football, it is not his only passion. His way of inspiring students to be their very best on the field, court and in life is a special gift. His wisdom, honesty and remarkable ability to help others enabled him to be a tremendous mentor to our students as well as young teachers and coaches. He will be missed at Gilbert High.”
Under Harley’s leadership the GHS football team consistently qualified for football playoffs in 2A (six of seven years) and 3A (two of four years.).
Some of Harley’s favorite memories include growing the GHS athletic facilities by adding a new football and soccer stadium, baseball stadium, track facility, weight training facility and tennis facility, and renovating the softball field. In addition, GHS added many sports teams, including middle school baseball, girls’ golf, middle school softball, middle school volleyball and wrestling.
As 2A contenders, Gilbert High finished regularly in the Top 10 State Athletic Director’s Cup, earning more than 50 region titles from 2005–2015. Harley has been a region coach of the year five times and region athletic director five times.
