7/3/2020
Hank Deer is in his ninth season with the program and his first as the Interim Head Women's Soccer Coach.
Deer originally joined the USC Aiken women’s soccer program after coaching the North Augusta girls varsity soccer program from 2005-08.
Deer guided North Augusta to new heights during his four seasons with the program. He led North Augusta to a 44-30 record overall in his four years in charge, collecting a winning season in each of his four seasons at the helm.
Deer guided North Augusta to its first ever winning season in his first season in charge in 2005.
From that point forward, North Augusta continued to become even more formidable and people began to take notice. The Augusta Chronicle took notice of his work by naming him the 2007 South Carolina Girls Coach of the Year.
In 2008, he coached a North Augusta squad that was region 4-AAAA runner-up. For his work with his 2008 team, Deer was selected the region 4-AAAA girls Coach of the Year.
Deer has been working in the school systems in the state of South Carolina since 1989. In addition to coaching soccer, he has also coached football and track.
In fact, in 2001 when Deer was the head varsity track coach at Silver Bluff High School in Aiken, S.C. he was chosen as the Aiken Standard Track Coach of the Year.
Deer has coached football at North Augusta (2003-2008), Silver Bluff (2000-2003), Ridge Spring-Monetta (1999-2000 and 1994-97), McCormick (1997-1999) and Midland Valley (1992-94). He has been a part of two state championships, serving as the defensive backs coach on Silver Bluff’s state title teams in 2000 and 2001.
Deer rejoined the USC Aiken staff after having been the first Head Women’s Soccer Coach at River Bluff High School in Lexington, SC. In its inaugural season, 2014, the program finished with a 14-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance in the SCHSL AAA playoffs, having defeated a #2 and a #1 seed on the road.
In Deer’s second season, River Bluff was moved to class AAAA, South Carolina’s largest classification. The program didn’t miss a beat as Deer guided the Lady Gators to a region 5-AAAA runner up finish, a #2 seed, and yet another Elite Eight appearance after having defeating a #1 seed on the road in the second round of the SCHSL playoffs. The Lady Gators finished the 2015 campaign with a #10 final ranking.
Deer played college soccer at Lander. He graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s of science in Physical Education. He obtained his Masters of Science in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in 2000.
In addition to his responsibilities with USC Aiken women’s soccer, Deer teaches science at Mead Hall Episcopal School. Deer is married to Joel and the couple has a son, Owen.
