This month, legendary Byrnes strength coach Mike Srock was honored with the Tallulah & Keith Richardson Distinguished Service Award.
The award, presented by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA), recognizes a lifetime of dedication to student-athletes, coaches, and athletic programs across South Carolina.
Srock, who worked for 23 years at Byrnes from 1998 to 2021, was humbled to receive the call.
“When [the SCACA] called me, I just couldn’t believe it,” said Srock. “I mean, it came out of the clear blue. I can’t tell you how grateful I am and how humbled I am. When you look at the list of award winners in years past, just to be mentioned with them, it’s humbling. That’s all I can say.”
In his time at Byrnes, Srock was a revolutionary in his craft. He was one of the first full-time high school strength coaches in South Carolina. His strength and conditioning philosophies helped usher in a golden era of Byrnes athletics in the early 2000s.
But when you ask Srock, the secret to his success wasn’t just about what took place in the weight room and on the field.
It was what took place inside his heart.
“My biggest secret, I think, was just having such a passion for the success of our young athletes,” said Srock. “That’s what it boils down to. The coaches and I would devise a plan that we thought would be successful for that particular group of players. We stuck to those plans, and we were relentless and consistent.”
Bobby Bentley, who was the head football coach when Srock came on board at Byrnes, still looks back today on when Srock joined the program in 1998.
He calls the addition of Srock “one of the best decisions” ever made.
“Mike Srock was the best ‘volunteer’ hire of my career,” said Bentley. “I had never hired a volunteer, but I trusted Coach Srock because he sold me on the fact that he would help with middle school football & the weight room.
“We truly bonded in his first week on the job, and by the following summer, he was guiding our off-season training. He’s one of the hardest workers on this Earth. He helped me build the program daily. He made us better because his work ethic was contagious, which in turn built resilient players.”
Srock still helps out with strength and speed coaching at Byrnes in a limited capacity. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he helps train the Byrnes softball team before and throughout the season.
He works hand-in-hand with head coach Brandi Aiken.
Aiken says Srock is a huge reason why Byrnes softball has captured five of its six state championships.
“He is truly one of the best strength coaches in the country,” said Aiken. “At any level. I always say that Srock is the difference in all of the close plays. The work he puts in with the girls is the difference between being safe and being out when it’s close.
"Our game is a game of inches, a game of steps, and Srock is almost always the reason we are on the right side of those close calls.”
Srock says he’s thankful to the Byrnes and District Five community for their support over the years, and for trusting him with building up young Rebel athletes since 1998.
“Byrnes is a special, special place,” said Srock. “I’m always going to be passionate about the school and the community. When I see Byrnes people in the bank, it’s always ‘Go Rebels.’ When I see Byrnes people in the supermarket, I end every conversation with ‘Go Rebels.’
“Just like everyone here, I bleed blue. Once a Rebel, always a Rebel.”
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