Fields Named DHS Girls Basketball Coach
Pictured here (left to right) are Phil Jones, Athletic Director of Darlington High, Coach Frances Fields, Darlington High’s new Girls Basketball Coach, and Dr. Greg Harrison, principal of Darlington High School.
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Darlington High School welcomed a new addition to their athletics program last Thursday, naming Frances Fields as the new girls basketball coach and Student Advocate Specialist. Coach Fields is currently the Head Varsity Girls Basketball/Track & Field Coach at Lakewood High School in Sumter, SC.
“We are excited to introduce Coach Fields as our next girls basketball coach. We think Coach Fields brings a lot of knowledge about basketball and about academics, and we’re proud to have her on board,” said DHS principal Dr. Greg Harrison. “She’s going to be good for our players, school, and community. She brings a lot of experience and basketball knowledge to our program, as well as a desire to help our students succeed well beyond high school.”
Darlington High School athletics director Phil Jones agreed that Fields will be a valuable asset, providing guidance and leadership both on and off the court.
“She’s passionate, she’s a hard worker, and she cares for the kids,” said Jones. “She’s a young coach, but she’s had a lot of success already.”
Under her leadership, Lakewood Girls Basketball charted winning seasons every year since 2010, a second place finished the region conference, played in the second round of playoffs, numerous players earned full scholarships to college, and the program was named one of the top ten SC AAA teams. This past season, the team racked up an impressive 22-5 record, finishing first in region conference, and were lower state champions and the state-runner up. Fields was recognized as 2014-15 Region Coach of the Year and 3A Coach of the Year.
Fields also serves as a referee for the District 9 High School League. Other previous positions included head junior varsity girls basketball coach at Lakewood and assistant track coach at Sumter High. In college she was an intercollegiate honors student athlete and started at point guard for High Point University.
Fields’ coaching duties at Darlington began immediately after the press conference, and she was pressed into action that very night at the Taste of Falcons Booster Club fundraiser.
“I’m ready to embark on this new journey,” said Fields, offering thanks to those at Lakewood who helped begin her coaching career. “I’m very excited to get this new opportunity at Darlington.”
