BLYTHEWOOD – Head football coach Jason Seidel’s tenure at Blythewood High School came to an abrupt end Tuesday as Principal Matt Sherman accepted Seidel’s resignation after five years with the program.
Seidel, who came to the Bengals in the spring of 2018 following two years at Hickory Ridge (N.C.), completed his best season at Blythewood in 2022. The Bengals went 9-2 and won the Region 3-5A championship, their first since 2012. They lost to Byrnes on a last-second field goal in the second round of the 5A playoffs.
Through five years at Blythewood Seidel compiled a 26-22 record.
When reached, Seidel said he was not allowed to comment on the matter.
In an email to The Voice on Wednesday, Richland Two Director of Communications Ishmael Tate said that the district does not publicly discuss personnel matters.
Seidel received a one-week suspension in September 2019. His interactions via Twitter with several football players from Ridge View and Richland Northeast high schools in December 2018 and January 2019 drew the attention from the media. Seidel exchanged numerous tweets with the players over that time frame, encouraging them to transfer to Blythewood and play for the Bengals.
No cause was noted in Sherman’s written address to the players. In the statement, Sherman said “I met with our players and coaches today during lunch to share this update with them and to share our plans during this transition.
He continued, “I have also reminded all of our student-athletes to remain focused on their number one priority… academics. I ask that you help me echo this priority and keep our players focused on improving themselves and contributing to the Bengal Football culture. Throughout this transition, we will all remain committed to our core values of showing respect, taking responsibility, and building relationships.”
The search for a new coach for the fall begins immediately, as the school began taking applications for the head coaching position Wednesday.
In the interim, Athletic Director Barry Mizzell named assistant coach Tim Garifalon as lead of football operations. Strength and Conditioning Coach Michael Aimonee will lead open season strength and conditioning.
Before coming to Blythewood, the Red Hook, N.Y., native led the Hickory Ridge Bulls to a 23-6 record over two years, including a school-record 12 victories in 2016. Hickory Ridge won 11 games in his second year after the school moved up to Class 4A. He served as an assistant coach at several schools before his time with the Bulls.
Seidel is the second coach to have resigned in this manner. In 2007, first-year head coach Reggie Shaw resigned after it was found that the Bengals had practiced in pads—constituting an illegal practice according to the South Carolina High School League—in the spring of that year. The league banned the Bengals, who won the 3A state championship the year before, from postseason play that season. Under then-interim head coach Geremy Saitz, the Bengals went 10-0 in the regular season.
Seidel’s replacement will be the eighth head football coach in the school’s history.
Letter from BHS Principal Matt Sherman to BHS Players, Parents
Good evening Bengal players and parents,
As the principal of Blythewood High School, I have accepted the resignation of Jason Seidel as Head Coach of our football program. We are starting the process of looking for the next head coach to lead the Bengal Nation Football Teams. It is our goal to find the best candidate prior to the start of spring practice. In the interim, Coach Garifalon will be serving as our Lead of Football Operations and Coach Aimonee will be leading our open season strength and conditioning. I met with our players and coaches today during lunch to share this update with them and to share our plans during this transition.
I have also reminded all of our student-athletes to remain focused on their number one priority… academics. I ask that you help me echo this priority and keep our players focused on improving themselves and contributing to the Bengal Football culture. Throughout this transition, we will all remain committed to our core values of showing respect, taking responsibility, and building relationships.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me anytime.
I am 1 Proud Bengal and WE are… Bengal Nation.
Matt Sherman
