Lower Richland Basketball Coach Receives National Honor

Chip Atkins, boys basketball coach at Lower Richland High School, has been named as
National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Over the last two years, the Diamonds compiled a record of 44-2 during regular season,
20-0 in region play, 12-0 in tournament play and 6-2 in the playoffs. Atkins’ career win total of 592 places him in competition for third place on the state’s all-time list.

The state’s coach of the year in 1990 and 1994, Atkins was long-time basketball coach at Allendale-Fairfax and Barnwell. He won five state titles as boys golf coach at Barnwell and is former principal of Williston-Elko.

Atkins has served as executive director and president of the S.C. Basketball Coaches
Association and the South Carolina Golf Coaches Association.