Heathwood Hall announces the hiring of Marcus Lattimore as the Head Football Coach, upon the resignation of outgoing coach Steve Victory, according to this release from the school.
Victory, 3-15 in his two seasons at the helm, will be returning to his home state of Louisiana to tend to family matters.
Lattimore, a former South Carolina All-American and San Francisco 49ers draft pick, served as Heathwood's Varsity Running Backs coach and Head B-Team Coach in 2016.
He helped coach junior running back Brandon McCullough to 1st Team SCISA All-State honors, and the B-Team to the SCISA Region 1-AAA Championship, after they had gone winless in 2014 and 2015.
In addition to his duties as the Head Football Coach, Lattimore will serve as Heathwood Hall's School Advancement Associate. In this role, he will work with the athletic administration, admissions office, school development office, and Head of School Chris Hinchey. He will begin both roles on January 16, 2017.
CHRIS HINCHEY: "Marcus has articulated a vision of excellence for the entire football program (Varsity, JV and B-Team), and I am confident that, through his exceptional work ethic, genuine concern for player development, advanced understanding of the game, and commitment to character and sportsmanship, he will build a very competitive team and outstanding program. He is excited about the challenge ahead and he is the right man for the job."
JEFF WHALEN: "“We are extremely pleased that Marcus has accepted our offer to become our head football coach and a member of our staff at Heathwood. Marcus is very knowledgeable in football but brings to us a more important characteristic in that he understands the importance of developing character and discipline. I would also like thank and wish Steve Victory future success as he and his wife move back to New Orleans.”
MARCUS LATTIMORE: "Heathwood Hall is a special community that I am thrilled to be a part of. The kindhearted people make this place feel like home. The genuine care for our students is evident, and it all starts with great leadership from our Head of School, Chris Hinchey. The sport of football has provided me with a platform to motivate and inspire thousands of kids over the years, and this will give me an opportunity on a daily basis to continue to make an impact on the lives of our young men. Our coaching staff will immediately began to create a uniform system, developing the program from top to bottom, with the foundation built on an emphasis of accountability. Our young men will know they represent something bigger than themselves. Our players will work with pride to have people respect the name on the back of their jersey and more importantly, the name on the front."
STEVE VICTORY: "My wife and I are expecting our first child in February and it is our desire to be closer to our family in Louisiana. The Heathwood community has been very supportive of me and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such great people. I wish them nothing but the best in the future."
Marcus Lattimore’s Biography
Marcus, a native of Duncan, SC, graduated from Byrnes High School in 2010. As a senior, he earned USA Today’s high school All-American honors and was named South Carolina’s “Mr. Football.” Marcus then signed with the University of South Carolina and was a three year letterman for the Gamecocks and led the team to their first SEC championship game in 2010. Marcus holds the South Carolina all-time record with 41 career touchdowns in only 23 games. In 2013 Marcus was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the NFL draft. After two seasons, Marcus retired from the 49ers and returned to South Carolina to finish his degree in Public Health. He is committed to growing the image of The Marcus Lattimore Foundation, whose mission is to provide assistance to high school athletes who may not have sufficient insurance to obtain quality rehabilitation from sports-related injuries.
