After seeing unparalleled success for a new program, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads softball team will be looking to a new leader next spring.
Softball coach Michael Kidd has stepped down as head coach after back-to-back 4A state championships. Kidd is building a house on his land in Chester and will be moving there to take care of his 300-acre farm and animals on the farm.
“I am selling my home in Fort Mill and moving to my property down here,” he said. “It is going to be just too much of a commute for me to do that and coach.”
In the five years he has been at the helm of Catawba Ridge softball, Kidd guided the Copperheads to three state finals appearances winning in 2023 and 2024. He amassed a 106-21-1 record during those five seasons and coached the first team to win a state championship in school history. The Copperheads also set a school record with 29 wins this past season in repeating as state champions at the 4A level.
“It is hard to walk away from a program you built from scratch and you created that standard,” he said. “Walking away from the game itself is tough, walking away from the players is even tougher. The bonds and love you create with those kids and their families; it is bigger than what most people think. It is a lot that goes into making things successful. The bonds and relationships will be truly missed.”
Kidd is one of just one of four head coaches in Fort Mill School District history to win at least three state championships and is the only coach in the district to ever win a state championship with two different Fort Mill School District high schools as he guided the Nation Ford softball program to a state title in 2011. Between the two schools, he finishes his career with a 296-102-1 record in 15 seasons as ahead softball coach.
“Softball has been a big part of my life and the reason it has is because of the relationships and players,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the same if it was another sport. Having daughters, it has been a pleasure coaching girls and that is probably why I did it as long as I did.”
Kidd was an assistant softball coach at Winthrop University for roughly two years between his time at Nation Ford and Catawba Ridge. He said coaching at Winthrop made him a better coach, but he feels like his time coaching is behind him.
“I don’t want to leave and start a program somewhere else,” he said. “After losing my mom and my uncle during softball season this past year, it made me realize I need to spend more time with my family.”
Kidd said he would still be available to help teach softball lessons, but the commitment will obviously be less than that of a head coach.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
