Lexington One Hires Irmo Legend Phil Savitz As River Bluff Coach

The new River Bluff High School set to open in Lexington District One in the fall has added another golden feather to its cap.

The district school board on Tuesday approved hiring Irmo coaching legend Phil Savitz as its new boys' soccer coach.

Savitz, who will coach Irmo for the final time this spring, led the Yellow Jackets to 617 wins and 13 state championships in more than three decades at the school. He is a member of the state athletic hall of fame.

Board members approved the move after executive session and did not name the coach, position they were hiring for or even the school, according to district spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill. Instead, the district approved "eight certified recommendations for the 2013–2014 school year."

But the River Bluff web site announced Savitz's hire, and that of several other coaches, on its website.

Other coaches named include:

• Henry “Hank” Deer — Women’s Head Soccer Coach and Biology Teacher
• Mike Armstrong – Assistant Athletic Director/Head Strength and Conditioning Coach / Assistant Football Coach
• Gary Smallen — Assistant Athletic Director, Assistant Football Coach and Physical Education Teacher

Savitz told The State it was his relationship with River Bluff Principal Luke Clamp that led to the move. Savitz was making $64,892 annually at Lexington-Richland School District 5, according to figures provided to Patch last June. Savitz's pay for 2013-14 will not be finalized until the budget passes later this spring, according to Hill.

Hill stood by the district's decision to handle the personnel decision behind closed doors, similar to how it hired a new athletics director in a similar fashion in December but didn't announce it until January.

In an email, Hill said the delay in announcing that hire allowed for the new athletics director to work "out a release date, etc. with the district who currently employs him (so that he could accept our offer) before formally announcing the hire."