01/11/2026
S.I.P. Coach Gist🙏🏾🕊️😇🧡💙
It is with deep sadness to inform our community and Trojan family tonight we mourn the passing of one of our former head coach forJIHS football, Coach Gary Gist at the age of 76.
Coach Gist fingerprints are all over many generations of Ft Johnson Trojans, James Island Rams and the James Island Trojans. Coach Gist spent his adult life on James Island. He was an assistant on the 1973 Ft Johnson State Championship Team. He was the head coach of the Trojans football program from 1985-1993. He won 54 games at the helm of the Trojans. Coach Gist once said his 1989 may have been his best team destined for a state run before their season was derailed by Hurricane Hugo. On paper, his 1991 team was the best! Coach Gist and the mighty Trojans won 9 games before falling in the state quarter finals.
After coaching, Coach Gist continued to be very active supporting Trojan Athletics. These last couple years he helped with JICHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The pride in his Trojans and The Island are only surpassed by his pride and love for his wife, his girls, and his granddaughter. Please keep his wife Brenda, daughters Shelby, Valerie, his granddaughter Amelia, and the rest of the Gist family in your thoughts and prayers. We will pass along any funeral arrangements when we receive them.
S.I.P. Coach Gist and thank you for everything you have done for the Trojan Family.🙏🏾🕊️😇🧡💙
