From 1984 to 2016, Coach Inman Sherman manned the sidelines as the head football coach at South Sumter High School. In his 32-year career as head coach, he led the Raiders to a record of 261-109. His South Sumter teams won 17 district titles, had numerous state semifinal appearances, and reached one state title game. When legends retire, their replacement usually has an extremely difficult time continuing their success, but that hasn’t been the case for Ty Lawrence, who was named Sherman’s successor after he retired in 2016. In 8 seasons at the helm, Lawrence’s teams have a record of 60-34, with three state semifinal appearances.

In Lawrence’s first year as head coach, he led the Raiders to a 10-2 record and a state semifinal appearance. The Raiders were inches from making the state finals that year as they were stopped just short of the goal line on fourth down with only seconds to go in the game. The Raiders fell 31-26 after being behind 31-7 in the 3rd quarter. It was a valiant effort by the Raiders, one that will be remembered for years to come. After losing 23 seniors to graduation in 2016, the Raiders faced uncharted territory during the 2017 season. With squads normally built on upperclassmen experience and toughness, the Raiders were extremely young and lacked their normal physicality. They finished the 2017 season 0-10. Since then, Lawrence and the Raiders have righted the ship, and from 2018-2023, they have an impressive record of 50-22 with two state semifinal appearances.

Lawrence came to South Sumter as an assistant coach in 1998, and except for one year each at Leesburg and Apopka, the entirety of his 26-year coaching career has been spent in Bushnell. When asked what made South Sumter a special place, Lawrence said, “Our kids know how to work. They are taught a strong work ethic from their parents at a young age, and it carries over as they grow older.” Lawrence said he couldn’t pick out just one single coaching moment that was most memorable. “I just like winning big games and celebrating in the locker room with our players.” Although his answer seemed very simple, it was very genuine. When asked if he always intended to be a football coach, Ty said, “I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be a football coach. My dad was a coach, and I just kind of grew up that way, and I don’t think there’s a better profession to be in.”

Before his coaching career started, Lawrence was a player at Leesburg High and in college at Valdosta State. When asked about his most memorable moment as a player, he again gave a very simple yet genuine answer, “I’m not sure I had a greatest moment. I just loved being around my teammates. We were just a group of friends working hard together to try to win some games. I still stay in contact with a lot of my high school teammates to this day. Our defense had eight shutouts my senior season, so I guess that’s the one thing that stands out the most.”

When asked what coach or coaches had the most influence on his career, he first responded with, “my dad… after that, it would have to be Coach Sherman and Rick Darlington in that order. All three have helped me so much in my journey of coaching.” As with all coaching jobs, there is a ton of time involved when you do things the right way. Lawrence said, “my family allows me to take the time to do things the right way. My wife and daughters sacrifice a lot of time for me to be able to coach, and I appreciate that so much.” Lastly, when asked what keeps him motivated from year to year, Lawrence said, “I just really enjoy seeing boys become men and the opportunity I have to be a small part of that.”

Lawrence has done some great molding of boys into men over the last eight seasons. The 2024 season looks to be another terrific year for the Raiders as they return a bevy of talent off a 2023 squad that finished 11-2 and led defending state champion Cocoa 14-12 midway through the 3rd quarter of last year’s state semifinal game. Congrats, Coach Lawrence, on a job well done!