Jay Frye is one of the longest-serving teachers at RNE. While many students know him as their law education teacher, they may not know Frye’s successful stint as head football coach. Frye was an assistant coach when the Cavaliers won the South Carolina Class 4A, Division II State Championship in 1993 and was head coach when the Cavs appeared in the State 5A, Division II Championship in 2005. While Frye retired in 2016, he is an RNE Hall of Fame inductee who won 127 games as head coach, more than any other coach in school history. He did not just start like this though.
Frye attended Hammond School from 1976 to 1980 and then continued his football career in college.
“I played at the University of South Carolina from 1980 to 1984,” Frye said “I played outside linebacker. I also played a lot of special teams [players on the field during kicking plays].”
He graduated with his degree in social studies from USC in 1984. Frye first taught social studies and coached football at Brookland-Cayce High School.
“I was at Brookland-Cayce and knew they were looking for a coach at RNE, and I knew Coach Harry Parone. And my family knew Coach Parone, who was over all the athletics in the district. So I contacted Coach Parone. He contacted [RNE Head Football ] Coach Wingard and did the interview process,” Frye said.
After Frye secured an assistant coaching spot, he also got a job teaching social studies.
“I teach law education right now. In the past I’ve taught a little bit of everything in social studies – geography and history, and then a little bit of psychology and sociology,” Frye said.
After 26 years of coaching at RNE, Frye retired as a state championship coach.
“I was ready for a change. It felt like it was that time. The head coaching responsibilities were a lot. The teaching as well,” Frye said.
While Frye did take a step back from being a head coach at RNE, he is still involved with football at Hammond.
“I knew Coach [Erik] Kimrey, who was over there as the head coach. When I resigned here, he contacted me. They happened to have an opening, so I went over there then, and it worked out,” Frye said.
Frye joined the Hammond coaching staff as an assistant coach specializing in linebackers. He has remained there for the last eight years, winning eight consecutive state championships, the most recent being just a few weeks ago. With football season over for Frye, he is back to being just a teacher until next season rolls around.
Now, Frye works half-days at RNE as a part-time teacher.
“I get a chance to work out, play a little golf, fish, hunt, things like that,” Frye said.
While Frye may be a Skyhawk coach, he is still a Cavalier teacher.
“I felt comfortable here. I like the administration, I enjoy teaching here, I enjoy the people and the kids,” Frye said. “I’m not a big person for a lot of change. So when Dr. [Sabrina] Suber [RNE principal at the time] allowed me to still teach here and coach over there, it made for a pretty smooth and easy transition.”
