Alex Fair leaves Great Falls for boys’ basketball coaching job at Rock Hill
Alex Fair, who coached Great Falls to the S.C. High School League’s 1A state championship in 2020, is the new boys’ head basketball coach at Rock Hill High.
Fair, who had a 108-37 coaching record in six seasons at Great Falls, replaces Doug Pearson, who has stepped down after four seasons.
Meanwhile, Fair’s assistant at Great Falls, Xavier Coleman, will replace him as head coach of the Red Devils.
Fair comes from a successful coaching family. His brother, Steven, guided Andrew Jackson to the last two 2A girls’ basketball state championships.
“I come from a phenomenal family,” Alex Fair said in a Facebook video posted by Rock Hill High. “I’m a lifelong learner, and I’m excited about being at Rock Hill High.”
Under Fair, Great Falls compiled an 18-5 record in the 2024-25 season. The Red Devils were 27-3 when they won the state crown in 2019-20.
Fair is an Andrew Jackson High graduate who played at Newberry College. He said there is potential for the Rock Hill High program.
“It’s a rich area for talent,” he said. “I’m ready to come in and change the culture.”
The Bearcats compiled an 8-17 record last season. Their only winning record in the last 11 seasons came in 2022-23, when they finished 18-8 under Pearson.
Holmes moves up
Xavier Holmes, a 2012 Great Falls High graduate, will take over the boys’ basketball program. He was head junior varsity coach and a varsity assistant for the Red Devils for the past six years.
Like Fair, Holmes played at Newberry College. He was a three-year starter and finished with more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
“As an alum of Great Falls High School, it’s a true honor and privilege to lead the program that played such a pivotal role in my own development,” he said.
Bearcats name softball coach
Will Jameson, who coached at York and Fort Mill high schools earlier in his career, has been named softball coach at Rock Hill.
Jameson compiled a 66-47 record in five seasons at York and was an assistant at Fort Mill in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Rock Hill has a combined 16-78 record over the last five seasons in softball.
Noteworthy
▪ Two Northwestern High football players have made college commitments in recent weeks. Receiver Kameron Vance has committed to Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. And offensive lineman Chris Coleman announced last week on social media that he has committed to Charleston Southern.
An interesting note about Northwestern High football: The Trojans are the winningest 5A football program in the state since 2021, with a 49-6 record.
▪ Catawba Ridge’s Sarah Rocheleau has been named Softball Player of the Year in South Carolina by MaxPreps. Rocheleau, a Clemson commit, played a major role in the Copperheads winning the 5A/Division 2 state softball championship, going 8 for 13 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in the state title series.
Coach Mike Mayak said Rocheleau is “one of the best human beings I’ve ever met. She’s genuine, treats everyone with kindness, and knows she has a purpose that goes beyond the softball field.”
▪ South Pointe basketball standout JaNiya Cunningham was honored as 4A Player of the Year during last month’s annual S.C. Association of Women’s Sports annual banquet.
This story was originally published July 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM.