WATCH: Irmo’s Brand named Carolina Panthers High School Coach of the Year

The Carolina Panthers recognized Irmo High School’s head football coach Aaron Brand as the team’s High School Coach of the Year award winner during a surprise ceremony at Irmo High School on Friday January 5th. Brand was surprised by players, students, family, and administrators during the announcement program.

During the ceremony, the Panthers presented Brand with a commemorative trophy and a $2,000 grant check to benefit the Irmo high school athletics program. As the Carolina Panthers High School Coach of the Year, Brand also became one of 32 national nominees for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.  Two winners, one representing the AFC and one the NFC, will be announced prior to the NFL Pro Bowl. 

 “Irmo High School’s Aaron Brand has sustained excellence and contributions to high school football in our region have made significant impacts,” said Carolina Panthers Director of Community Relations Riley Fields. “The Carolina Panthers and GMC are honored to name Coach Brand as the team’s High School Coach of the Year and nominate him for the national Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.” 

Brand has developed positive, successful high school football programs during his 15-year coaching career. He has transformed the culture of the Irmo (SC) High School football program. In the past five seasons, Brand has led the Yellow Jackets to consecutive winning seasons and helped rejuvenate a program that had not won more than seven games in a single season since 2010. Brand was selected as the 2020 Class 4A Coach of the Year by his coaching peers. In 2023, Brand led Irmo to a perfect 10-0 record during the regular season, which marked the first time the Yellow Jackets posted an undefeated regular season since 2002. Irmo finished with a 13-1 record in route to reaching the SCHSL Class 4A Lower State Finals. Prior to leading the Yellow Jackets, Brand led the Chambers Cougars (Charlotte) to three state NCHSAA semi-finals appearances and one state championship appearance in five seasons. 

Brand takes pride in transforming his players into young men and fostering opportunities for them at the next level. During his career, he has coached more than 125 student-athletes who went on to receive an athletic scholarship to play college football.