Rabun Gap names Derek White as Head Football Coach

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School has announced Derek White as the Eagles’ new head football coach following a national search that brought five highly-qualified candidates to campus.   

Coach White comes to Rabun Gap with a proven track record of success. He has won five state championship titles and earned two state Coach of the Year awards while placing more than 60 players in top colleges. Three of his former players have played in the NFL. 

“We are very excited to welcome Coach White to Rabun Gap,” said Head of School Jeff Miles. “Not only is he an outstanding football coach with the championships to prove it, but he is committed to building relationships and will be a major asset to our community. He is a perfect fit for Rabun Gap.”

A native of Greer, South Carolina, Coach White began his career at Vanderbilt University before moving to coach at Christ Church in South Carolina. He served as associate head coach there for seven years, leading Christ Church to win four state championships.  He was then named head coach at Ben Lippen School, a private boarding and day school in Columbia, South Carolina.  Coach White took over a program that had only one win the previous season and led Ben Lippen to clinch its first-ever state championship in 2016.  He became the all-time winningest coach at Ben Lippen after just four years. 

For the past four seasons, Coach White served as head coach at Presbyterian Christian School in Mississippi, where he took the program from 2-8 to three consecutive winning seasons in Mississippi's Class 6A, one of the most competitive leagues in the Southeast.  

“My family and I are so excited and grateful for this opportunity. I am thankful for all the former players, coaches, administration who helped me along in my career,” said Coach White.

“The opportunity to be a part of a great school, lead a national football program, and be closer to family was an opportunity I couldn't pass on.” 

Coach White arrived on campus Monday and has already begun meeting with players. He emphasized the mantra for the football program, #BUILT4ships - Be Uncommon In The Little Things: Relationships, Leadership, Championships, and Scholarships. The Eagles look to bring home the NCISAA state championship title this fall, after finishing as state runner-up for the past two seasons.