SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — Summerville coach John McKissick gave up football gimmicks soon after he entered coaching six decades ago. Now, the 86-year-old’s steady, fundamental approach has him on the verge of his 600th victory.

“Yeah, I guess it’s getting exciting around here,” McKissick quipped.

McKissick long ago became football’s all-time wins leader at any level — high-school, college or the pros. He broke Gordon Wood’s high school mark in 1993 with win No. 406. Ten years later, McKissick notched his 500th victory — all with the basics of a strong run game and stifling defense.

McKissick goes for the milestone Friday night at rival Ashley Ridge.

He is almost 80 victories ahead of the coach in second place, John T. Curtis Jr., the John Curtis Christian School coach in Louisiana who’s got 513 wins and is the only other coach to surpass 500.

St. John’s (Minn.) coach John Gagliardi is the college leader with 487 victories while Don Shula holds the professional mark with 347 wins.

It’s been a long journey for McKissick, who hasn’t wavered in his approach.

The coach remembers feeling pressure to create something new on offense a couple of years after arriving at Summerville in 1952.