Reed Charpia made his mark on the Newberry football program as both a player and a head coach. He lettered three seasons on the gridiron and was named Newberry’s Outstanding Back as a senior in 1964, leading the Indians in rushing, receiving, total offense, kick return yardage, and scoring. He also lettered four times in baseball, was named Who’s Who Among Students in America’s Colleges and Universities, and earned distinction with the Outstanding Young Men of America.
Charpia embarked on his coaching career immediately after graduation, making stops at Hanahan and Summerville High Schools as an assistant coach before landing his first head role at James Island High School. He piloted James Island to the 1974 3A state championship, then took Irmo to the 4A state title game and won a second straight state Coach of the Year award a year later.
In 1978, Charpia returned to his alma mater and was named Coach of the Year in both the SAC-8 and NAIA District 6 in his first year at the helm. Charpia took over a program that had finished 2-7-1 and tied for last place in the league the season before and coached them to a 7-3 finish and third-place finish in the SAC-8. He coached the Indians for four seasons in all, winning 21 games en route to becoming the first Newberry coach since 1916 to finish his career with a winning record.
Charpia went on to four more head coaching roles in South Carolina high schools, winning two additional state Coach of the Year honors and earning head coaching appointments at both the Shrine Bowl and North-South All-Star Game. He retired from head coaching following the 2010 season to work under his son, Rusty, on the Brookland-Cayce High School staff. He is known as one of South Carolina’s most successful coaches, winning 235 games in 34 years in the high school ranks.
