To be unique, something has to be singularly extraordinary. So, when Lower Richland Boys’ Head Basketball Coach Chip Atkins was the recipient of the National High School Federation’sCoach of the Year, he took it in stride.

“I asked the people at the High School League if any coach in the state had ever won it before,” said Atkins, who then said with a laugh, “Of course naming a National Coach of the Year wasn’t done until three years ago. There weren’t too many opportunities before then.”

The 59–year old mentor has compiled a great record including a two year run at L.R. of 50–6 this year. Atkins’s team was Class 4A runners–up in 2004 but lost to Beaufort in the Lower State semi–finals this past week. His career has produced winning teams at Barnwell and Allendale–Fairfax while posting a mark record of 592 victories.

Atkins amazed everyone as he prepared to go onto the court to accept the plaque for this prestigious honor because his shock of white air was uncustomarily combed and coiffed.

He said, “Hey, this is too important. I even got a hair cut,”

Now, that was unique.