Coach Lon “Splinter” Spivey
Spivey spent four years as a varsity assistant under Marty McIntyre at Marion High School and spent the last seven years at Pee Dee Academy. He was Head Varsity Coach for the Golden Eagles for the last four years of his time at Pee Dee Academy.
Spivey is married, and he and his wife, Kristi Smith Spivey, have two children: Hudson, age 10, and Hayden, age 7.
Spivey said he thought Dillon would be a good fit because he was familiar with the program and their success over the years.
“I already knew the majority of the staff before arriving this summer,” he said.
Spivey has kept the rest of the junior varsity coaching staff intact, and the junior Wildcats have already been hard at work.
“We have worked all summer right along with the varsity team,” he said.
Spivey said he grew up as the son of a Coach and has been around student athletes his entire life as either a manager, player or coach.
“I think it is very important for kids to play at an early age,” he said. “Football is a tough sport and the love for the game needs to be developed at an early age.”
But Spivey is also stressing the importance of keeping up academically as well.
“Academics is very important and a student’s ticket to the next level. We talk daily to the kids about their importance.”
“Respect is also something that we preach to the kids,” he said. “They will be held accountable for actions in the classroom when it comes to the football field. Discipline is important at every level and we spend time daily trying to instill it into our players.”
Last season the junior varsity Wildcats went undefeated, so Spivey knows he will be working with a very successful program but says he isn’t too worried about continuing their winning tradition.
“The kids and coaches know that winning is expected at Dillon and this will not change,” he said.
Although he was taking the reigns with an unfamiliar group of players, he says things have gone smoothly. “I feel like when a player knows they can trust you and you care about them, any trust issue will take care of itself.”
He also said that the support of Athletic Director Jackie Hayes and Principal Rodney Cook have been important.
“Coach Hayes and Mr. Cook will play a major role in the success of any team from a support stand point. Everything hast to go through them to make this process work and they have been great so far.”
Spivey said that he is excited about the opportunity to coach in Dillon.
“I am excited about the opportunity of being a part of the Dillon family on and off the field,” he said, “and grateful for so many good people to work along with.”
