Assistant Offensive Line Coach Alex Dial started coaching for the Chapin Varsity and JV  Football teams in August 2016. Dial’s vast coaching and playing experience across the country along with the elite expertise of the Chapin coaching staff has helped them facilitate this team to have the opportunity to play for the South Carolina 4A lower state title on Friday, December 9.

Coach Dial quickly gives the credit to the players, “These players are the ones on the field leaving it all out there. They are very intelligent, hard working kids and put a lot of heart into this game. I’ve enjoyed building relationships with them, and it is very fulfilling to watch them develop and grow into the team they’ve become.”

“The boys really like Coach Dial and that is always a huge plus. [He] has really helped them on and off of the field,” says Chapin Varsity Head Coach Justin Gentry.

Coach Dial began playing football at just ten years old. His career started at Richland Northeast, and attended Clemson University with a full-ride football scholarship. After five years at Clemson University, Dial accomplished three ACC Championships, four bowl game titles, four straight ten-win seasons, a Masters degree in human resources, and four top-15 finishes. Dial suffered a knee injury his senior year at Clemson, which ended his college career. He practiced and made the first pre-season game of the Chicago Bears NFL team, but his brief NFL career was cut short due to his recurring knee injury.

His coaching career began in Kenai High School in Kenai, Alaska. After his time there as the Offensive Line Coach, Defensive Line Coach, and Defensive Coordinator, Dial coached youth, middle school, and recreational football teams in Clemson, SC. His coaching continued as Coach Alex Dial worked for Tommy Bowden’s Clemson football camps, and served as a player development coach for Clemson University up until coaching at Chapin High School. Some of the most well-known athletes that Dial coached are Deandre Hopkins, Shaq Lawson and Deshaun Williams.

“In a lot of cases,” says Head Coach Justin Gentry, “good players don’t always equal good coaches, however, in his case, he [Coach Dial] was a great player and is a very good coach as well.”

Dial continues to coach for Clemson’s football camps, while still working with the Chapin Varsity eagles to advance their state title aspirations. The team is now in the 4A final four, and is looking to win a State Championship.

“I am thankful for Coach Gentry for giving me the opportunity to work with such a great staff,” says Dial, “the Chapin families’ support and love for this team has made me feel very welcome in the community.”