High school football programs across the country spend their springs, summers and falls preparing for the chance to play in one game - the state championship.
The vast majority of football players and coaches, though, never see those dreams materialize.
Welvin Simpkins is one of the lucky ones.
In 1995, the Edgefield-native caught the game-winning touchdown pass that put Strom Thurmond in the South Carolina state title game, which the Rebels lost.
Nine years later, Welvin returned to high school football's grandest stage under different circumstances - as an assistant coach at Charlotte's Independence High School. In his first year as the defensive backs coach, Welvin got to experience what he missed out on as a player. The Patriots won their fifth consecutive North Carolina state title by beating Hope Mills South View 41-7 on Dec. 11.
Welvin, 26, said he'd always wanted to coach, but didn't expect a job at a program with as much tradition as Independence would come his way so soon.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think the team I started with would go straight and win it all," he said.
A friend told him about the opening at Independence, leading Welvin to set up an appointment with head coach Bill Geiler. The interview earned Welvin a one-week tryout, after which Geiler offered the former wide receiver/defensive back a job.
Willie Simpkins, 32, knew growing up that his younger brother would one day find a way to make a positive impact on young lives.
"He had all the tools," said Willie, noting his brother's work ethic.
The year has been quite a learning experience for Welvin. He still thinks playing is harder than coaching, but the gap seems to be closing quickly.
"I didn't know how much time and effort that you have to put in (coaching)," he said. "That was a rude awakening for me."
Welvin owns a distribution company, which gave him the freedom to be at the football field at 2:30 each afternoon. Once he was there, his goal was to learn as much as he could from the more experienced coaches. Because, as he said, "I didn't know anything about coaching."
"They took me under their wing and taught me a lot, not just about coaching, but about life," Welvin said.
This experience, Welvin hopes, eventually will lead him to a head coaching job.
His older brother knows it will.
"I think the bar is relatively high as far as what he'll be able to do as far as his coaching career is concerned," Willie said.
BOWLING: Darlene Lindsey set a city record Friday night by bowling games of 258, 289 and 223 for a 770 series.
Lindsey broke Bridget Oliverio-Stancil's record of 764. Lindsey's father, Alfred (Buddy) Hart Jr., holds the men's city record of 844.
The father and daughter combination play on the same bowling league team.
Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.
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