For the first time since it opened in 2013, Stuart Cramer High School will have a new head football coach.

Ben McMillan, who led the program from the beginning, was relieved of his duties by Gaston County Schools. This news was first reported by Joe L. Hughes of the Gaston Gazette.

Over the Storm’s 11 seasons of varsity football, McMillan led them to a win-loss record of 44-75. From 2016-18, McMillan led them to three consecutive N.C. High School Athletic Association playoff appearances, posting final records of 7-5, 8-5, and 7-5. After a couple of missed playoff seasons, McMillan had Cramer back in the postseason in 2021 and 2022. Both of those teams lost in the first round.

According to Hughes, McMillan will stay on as the school’s boys golf coach.

Cramer has an average daily membership of 953 students this school year and will be a 4A school after the NCHSAA realigns into eight classifications this year.

In the initial draft of new conferences released by the NCHSAA, Cramer was placed in a 3A/4A league with 3As Lincolnton, Shelby, and West Lincoln, and fellow 4As Burns, East Gaston, and Lincoln Charter. East Gaston will also have a new head coach in 2025.