Following in footsteps

New Bishop England coach guiding program where his father left lasting legacy

Tyrone Walker
The Post and Courier

Bishop England first-year head coach John Cantey (right) takes over a program where his father Jack Cantey (left) won 184 games over 30 years.

Brad Nettles
The Post and Courier

New Hanahan High School head coach Charlie Patterson shows linemen the proper way to block during practice Friday at the school.

Brad Nettles
The Post and Courier

Hanahan High School's Nick Carson splits two of his teammates during a practice drill Friday, the first day for high school football practices in the state.

As a toddler, John Cantey would often try on his father's oversized shoes.

"Not only that, I would get my picture taken wearing his hat and whistle," said the 34-year-old Cantey, whose father, Jack, became a coaching legend at Bishop England, gaining 184 career football victories in 30 years as coach at the school before "retiring" in 1993.

Friday afternoon, Cantey stepped into his father's shoes for real when he led the Battling Bishops through their first practice of the season. Cantey was named coach of his alma mater in February when Jim Daniel resigned, and Friday was his first official day on the job. He and his staff of all-volunteer assistants put the team through rigorous workouts on a hot and humid day. One of Cantey's assistants was none other than dear old dad.

"I've been a little nervous the last couple of days, especially today," the younger Cantey said. "I usually don't get nervous, so I can only imagine what it will be like when we play our first home game."

Bishop England's stadium is the house that Jack built. Bishop England named it in honor of the elder Cantey when the school set up shop on Daniel Island in the fall of 1998. Cantey will coach his first game in the stadium named after his father on Aug. 29. North Charleston will be the opponent.

John Cantey didn't dream of being the head football coach at Bishop England.

"Dad wanted me to do whatever made me happy," Cantey said. "When I was growing up, I heard my friends say so many times, 'You're going to do the same thing your dad did.' I said, 'No, I'm not.' But by the time I was in college, I'd help out with the team any way I could before it was time to go back. It was in my blood."

Coaching is in his blood. And, dad is not in his hair.

"My dad is going to let me do things the way I want to do it," Cantey said. "He's not going to step in. He wants me to have freedom."

Said Jack Cantey: "I'll give my opinion if he asks for it. We think alike, but most of the times, he'll do something without telling me. We don't always agree. When he told me he was going to have the players lift weights at 7 o'clock in the morning on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, I told him it was a good idea but he was going to be lonely. But he got a pretty good crowds. He worked all summer. He didn't get a vacation."

Cantey said he won't mind taking orders from his younger son.

"He was higher up on the chain of command before he was named head coach," Cantey said. "I was the offensive line coach and he was the defensive coordinator, so it doesn't bother me. I'll let him take care of the big picture. I'll let him take care of the details that tired me out. I'm just happy we're together."

Friday was the first day South Carolina High School League teams could practice, and there were a handful of new coaches in the Lowcountry.

Marion Brown made his debut at Baptist Hill. He replaced Rick Burns.

Charlie Patterson made his debut at Hanahan. He replaced Jeff Cruce, who is the coach at the new school in Berkeley County: Cane Bay. Doc Davis is the coach of the new school in Dorchester County: Ashley Ridge.

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or 937-5592.