IRMO — Lexington-Richland School District Five has named Cory Helms as the new head football coach at Chapin High School.
Helms brings a proven track record of program development, student-athlete growth, and leadership rooted in discipline, accountability, and integrity. A former standout SEC offensive lineman at the University of South Carolina, Helms also gained professional experience in the NFL, including a season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“This is a job that I have wanted since I got into coaching,” Helms said. “Chapin is a special place and has the opportunity to become a premier football program in the state of South Carolina. There is not anyone who will work harder to achieve that than I will. I am excited to get to work.”
Helms most recently served as head football coach and assistant athletic director at Pelion High School, where he inherited a two-win program and led the Panthers to five victories in his first season, marking the program’s highest win total since 2014.
Prior to Pelion, Helms spent three seasons at Cardinal Newman School as head football coach, assistant athletic director, and strength and conditioning coach. During his tenure, he expanded the program from 22 players to more than 100 student-athletes across three teams. The varsity team improved from a 5–6 record in his first season to a 9–3 finish in year two, the second-most wins in school history, following a 1–18 stretch prior to his arrival.
Helms also brings championship experience from Gray Collegiate Academy, where he served as head strength and conditioning coach, offensive line coach, and run game coordinator. During that time, Gray Collegiate captured the 2021 SCHSL Class 2A state championship and won three consecutive region titles.
At the collegiate level, Helms worked as a graduate assistant strength coach at the University of South Carolina, assisting with strength programming and offensive line development. As a player, he started 46 of 47 games for the Gamecocks before gaining professional experience during the 2018 NFL season with the New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals.
“Coach Helms is going to bring renewed energy to the Chapin football program,” Chapin Athletic Director Billie Williams said. “He believes in accountability, hard work, and discipline, while also placing a strong emphasis on building meaningful relationships with our players. Cory has spent the last several years helping programs grow into consistent competitors, and I’m confident he will do the same at Chapin High School. This is the right time for Coach Helms and Chapin football.”
