Jupiter Wilson takes challenge of Garinger High football

GARINGER HIGH SCHOOL

Former Hickory Ridge High football coach Jupiter Wilson, who led the Ragin' Bulls to the 2021 Greater Metro 4A title, is Garinger's new coach.

Jupiter Wilson is Garinger High’s new football coach.

Wilson, 43, comes over from Hickory Ridge in Cabarrus County, where he was coach since 2019. He was a three-year starter at North Carolina (1999-2003) and earned the Jack Sapp award in 2003 as the Tar Heels’ best senior.

Wilson left Hickory Ridge with a 31-32 record with an outlier season in 2024 where the Ragin’ Bulls finished 0-11 due in part to mass transfers. Despite recent struggles, Wilson brought Hickory Ridge to prominence and earned recognition as a finalist for NFL high school coach of the year in 2021. The Ragin’ Bulls won the 2021 Greater Metro 4A conference title.

Prior to Hickory Ridge, Wilson was head coach at Hickory High in Chesapeake, Virginia, from 2011-18. He is familiar with the Charlotte area as well having been an offensive and defensive coordinator at Chambers (formerly Vance) from 2007-10, as well as offensive line coach at Monroe.

In the last 10 years, Garinger has had six different head coaches – which matches the Wildcats’ win total during that span. In 2024, Garinger was winless, and scored a total of 22 points. Wilson understands the challenge, likely the toughest he has faced as a coach, but it was something he felt called to do.

“Being realistic, I think the job needed me as much as I needed a job,” Wilson said. “So why not me? Instead of just looking at it from a negative [perspective], and what they don’t have, me and my wife just talked, and she kept using the word, and the [athletics director] kept using the word, just having a blank canvas. Most of the other jobs that presented themselves, or could have presented themselves, were going to be an idea of something to get back to winning, which you know, as coaches, we all want to do. But politics were involved and some things about the way they want you to do it where I feel like at Garinger, there are really not going to be any restrictions. It’s just whatever you feel like you need to do. Let’s do it.”

West Charlotte coach Sam Greiner, who led the Lions to last year’s 3A state title, has a longstanding relationship with Wilson, who was one of Greiner’s top assistants at Hickory Ridge when he was head coach in 2019. Wilson took over after Greiner left Hickory Ridge. Greiner said when Wilson stepped away from Hickory Ridge, he wanted Wilson to join his staff. That changed when Garinger called.

“[Wilson] said ‘no’ the first time around,” Greiner said. “He was going to come be a part of our staff. He interviewed and wasn’t sure about [Garinger] and he was coming here to work at West Charlotte. Something happened the Sunday before he took the job and that Monday he said, ‘Sometimes in life, you’ve just got to do things because you were called to do them.’ That is exactly what he did by taking the job. It is not an easy task… It can’t be done in a year, but Jupiter is a longevity-type guy and will see it through for three and four years to see the progression.”

Greiner, who took over losing programs at Harding and West Charlotte, not only turned them around but transformed them into state champions. Greiner recognizes doing the same at Garinger would be an even taller task, but thinks Wilson can get the Wildcats turned around, if there ever was anyone who could.

“It isn’t about Jupiter,” Greiner said, “it’s about what lives inside of Jupiter. We’ve got the same thing living inside of both of us. It is not us as individuals, but the Spirit inside of us. You’ve got to trust that process. It isn’t going to be easy. There will be a lot of lumps and a lot of valleys he will face. But, one day the mountaintop is on the horizon, and you just have to stay focused and understand your purpose. You have to keep working every day and know that the future will come one day.”

After the suspension of Garinger’s last coach, DeAngelo Lloyd due to an incident with an assistant in September 2024, Wildcats’ Athletics Director Brian Bourque said he became more involved in the football program and to find what it needed to be successful.

Wilson checked all the boxes.

“When we interviewed Jupiter, I had heard of him,” Bourque said, “but when we interviewed and talked to him… he knocked it out the park, and he really impressed the panel with his experience and not only who he is as a coach, but who he is as a man as well. I’m really excited about him coming in and watching him try to inspire the community to rally around a young group of men that have potential and just don't know it yet.”

Bourque encourages the Garinger community to be patient, because taking a team that has had 14 winless seasons in its last 25 years and turning it into a winner is going to take time. But he thinks Wilson can get it done.

“I would just say having patience and trust in the process,” Bourque said. “Believe in us bringing good people and putting good people in place to really get these kids prepared to not just thrive during these four years at Garinger get them ready for life outside of these walls here at Garinger and get them ready for the real world.”

Wilson, who will start his Garinger teaching job – weightlifting – later this month, coached track and field as well as girls’ basketball at Hickory Ridge. He plans to pour his time primarily into football at Garinger.

“Football will pretty much be the main [sport],” Wilson said. “I may do something with track just with the experience I have there and all that entails. But outside of that, I don't plan on coaching basketball anymore, just because I knew it was something that pulled me away. When I had more assistants in the building, it really wasn't that bad. But as time went on, that just became a tougher task for me to keep going with the amount of responsibilities.”

Wilson’s plan is to connect with students in whatever way possible. Garinger has lacked coaching stability across the board — but especially football — which has led to less athlete participation. The Wildcats had just 42 players on their roster last season, but Wilson wants students to know he is there to help them win, not looking to leave for the next opportunity. He thinks that will attract more interest.

“I think, from a football standpoint, is really just wrapping your arms around some kids, telling them that they can be somebody, and them believing in you,” Wilson said. “And when times get tough, which I know they're going to get tough, they can see they continue to hear the same message in the same voice. And I think eventually more kids will come.”

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