Honoring a Local Legend

Dave Spurlock has been the athletic thread that has held together Charleston County schools for more than four decades and he is a coaching legend in West Ashley. Spurlock retired in June, but his impact is still felt all over the county and especially in West Ashley where he coached at the now defunct St. Andrew’s High School from 1978 until 2001 when he moved over to West Ashley High School when St. Andrews merged with Middleton High to form the new school.
While at St. Andrew’s he served as head baseball coach, leading the Rocks to a state title in 1978 and eventually became the head football coach in 1982. He was instrumental in getting WAHS’s athletic programs on track once the two high schools merged in 2001. In 2007 he retired from coaching and took a position as athletic director for Charleston County School District.
After 42 years with the district, Spurlock retired at the end of the school year. He is hailed as “one of the titans of physical education in the U.S.,” by Harvard Medical School researcher and author Dr. John Ratey. “He is one of the biggest reformers in this country.” His practical application of movement in the classroom has been a subject of research by The Medical University of South Carolina and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Spurlock speaks nationally at conferences on the importance of daily physical activities for children.
But just because he’s retired doesn’t mean that Spurlock is putting up his feet to relax just yet. He now has more time to focus on his personal health and wellness initiative with MUSC’s Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness, which will be featured Friday, Aug. 12 at the Sertoma Football Classic. To honor him for his service, the Hendrick Auto Group Charleston/North Charleston Sertoma Football Classic is calling that Friday night Dave Spurlock Night.
For more than four decades, students, families and fans from Lowcountry high schools have come together for the annual gathering of the official kickoff to high school football in the tri-county area — the Sertoma Football Classic at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium Aug. 11 and Aug. 12.
A graduate of North Charleston High School and Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University), Spurlock has given much of his time and knowledge to wellness and health initiatives such as: The Boeing Center for Wellness, MUSC’s Lean Team, Charleston County Medical Society, Eat Smart Move More, Charleston’s Lighten Up initiative and Louie’s Kids. He’s coached baseball, football, girls’ basketball, and more. He was instrumental in bringing yoga to Charleston County schools.
“Dave has been integral in the Sertoma Classic for decades. He helped make this event what it has become today because of his passion to help children. His loyalty and support of our event for all this time has never wavered, and we are lucky to have him as part of our team.” said Debbie McKelvey, Chairman of the Sertoma Classic.