Veteran college coach with SC ties to take over Hilton Head Prep football program
Hilton Head Prep went into the college ranks to find its new football coach.
Colgate defensive backs coach Doug McFadden was announced as the Dolphins new football coach, the school announced Monday morning. McFadden replaces Dustin Etheridge, who stepped down after two seasons.
Etheridge has since become the defensive coordinator at Ashley Ridge.
“Coach McFadden is an outstanding addition to the Prep Athletic Department and our overall coaching staff,” Hilton Head Prep athletic director Shon Hardy, said in a school release. “From my first conversation with Doug, I was impressed by his knowledge of the game and his dedication to guiding young men through football. As Prep Athletics continues to pursue excellence, I am confident that Coach McFadden is the right leader to lead our football program to success.”
McFadden, a Columbia naitve, has been at Colgate since 2022 and has more than 20 years of college coaching experience. Before Colgate, he was at Lafayette from 2009-2022 and eventually earned a promotion to defensive coordinator.
While at Lafayette, McFadden recruited Prep quarterback Stone McDonald so he is familiar with the school and the area.
“Hilton Head Prep was a great match for what I was looking for in a school. I’m excited to have an opportunity to build a program and empower student-athletes on and off the field,” McFadden said in a release.
McFadden, who played in college at Southwest Baptist in Missouri, also had stops at Fort Hayes (Kan.), South Dakota State, Langston University and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. He was a coaching intern in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.
Hilton Head Prep went winless the past two seasons and will be moving down in football from Class 3A to Class 2A in SC Independent Schools Association realignment for the 2024-26 school years.
SC High School Football openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
Bishop England — John Cantey — TBA
Fort Dorchester — Josh Smith (interim) — Shaun Lorenzano
Gilbert — Chad Leaphart — TBA
Gray Collegiate — Adam Holmes — TBA
Great Falls — Brian Kane — Syvelle Newton
Greenville — Greg Porter — TBA
Heathwood Hall — Rick Reetz — Tymere Zimmerman
Hilton Head Prep — Dustin Etheridge — Doug McFadden
Laurens — Darryl Smith — Greg Porter
Lugoff-Elgin — Matt Campbell — TBA
Marlboro County — Quinn McCollum — TBA
Rock Hill — Bubba Pittman — TBA
Stall — Benjamin Lailson — Ken Freeman
Scott’s Branch — Randall State — Patrick Fleming
St. John’s — Mike Howard — TBA
Swansea — Brent Wilder — Willie Fox
Union County — Brian Thompson — Quinnon Isom
Wagener-Salley — Willie Fox — TBA
Wando — Rocco Adrian — Isaiah Perrin
Wilson — Rodney Mooney — Glenwood Ferebee
