After a decade at Byrnes, assistant basketball coach Jonah Corn has a new home.
On Monday evening, Corn is expected to be officially introduced as the head basketball coach at the brand new Lake Wylie High School.
“I’m super excited for this opportunity,” said Corn. “Brand new school and a nice community that’s growing. It’s not often that opportunities like this come up. This was a role that was impossible to turn down.”
Corn has been at Byrnes since 2016, working directly alongside head coach Layne Fowler in very successful spells for the Runnin’ Rebels. Corn helped guide the 2023-24 team to the Class 5-A Upper State Championship. Byrnes was 180-87 during Corn’s tenure as assistant coach.
“Jonah has been exactly what I hoped he’d be coaching in our Runnin’ Rebel program,” said Fowler. “He cares about the kids, and he cares about the program. And he knows the Xs and Os of basketball. I’m so glad he’s getting this opportunity. He is going to thrive at Lake Wylie.
“He has been ready to be a head coach. It was always just a matter of time.”
Corn is in a unique situation, taking over at Lake Wylie in its first year of existence as a school. A part of the Clover School District, Lake Wylie will compete in Class 4-A in its first two-year cycle.
Corn will be the school’s first-ever head basketball coach.
“It’s really a golden, unique opportunity,” said Corn. “You get to go in and set the tone from the start, without having to worry about or live up to anything that happened previously. It’s a special place, because there aren’t many jobs or opportunities I’d leave Byrnes for.”
Corn became emotional as he spoke about his time at Byrnes and everything the Runnin’ Rebel program has meant to him.
“The coaches and I have built a really special relationship throughout my time here,” said Corn. “We genuinely love being around each other. And I think that bond has translated to the players and the love they have for the program, too.
“It’s hard to leave Byrnes, especially being there for so long and making so many great relationships and memories. But there was nothing in my head telling me not to take on this role [at Lake Wylie]. It was too good an opportunity. I can’t wait to jump in and get started.”
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