Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Keith Wilkes named head football coach at Olympic High

Olympic High athletics director Ken Konstanty had more than 40 candidates apply for the school’s head football job after longtime coach Barry Shuford resigned last December. Wednesday, Konstanty said he was “thrilled” to announce that former Vance and Winston-Salem Carver coach Keith Wilkes would replace Shuford at Olympic.

“We’re excited to get someone of a Shuford quality,” Konstanty said. “That’s what we were looking for. We’re confident coach Wilkes will be able to come in and our school won’t miss a bit. We’re hopeful he can take us to the next level.”

Konstanty said Wilkes will start working with the team this week. He likely won’t start working in the school until August.

Shuford coached at Olympic since 2007. His 2013 team was 7-5. After going 4-7 in his first season, Shuford’s next six teams produced no losing seasons.

Wilkes was hired at Vance in January of 2012 and coached the Cougars in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The 2012 Vance team was 9-4. Vance was 6-6 last season after a 4-1 start. The Cougars lost their final three games and four of their last five. Vance High athletics director Carlos Richardson told the Observer that Wilkes and the school had a “mutual decision” to part ways after the 2013 season. Wilkes resigned in November, shortly after Vance’s season was over.

Wilkes, part of the 2011 class of the Winston-Salem/Forysth County High School Sports Hall of Fame, built quite a tradition at Winston-Salem Carver.

From 1992-2007, his teams were 139-62-1 with 11 conference titles and state championships in 1998 and 2003. Wilkes was 9-21 at Shiloh High in Snellsville, Ga., for three seasons before resigning and eventually landing at Vance.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Big mistake. Someone ought to check the real reason he left Vance. This is a definite downgrade for Olympic football.

Anonymous said...

Downgrade?? He got more kids in college in one year /scholarships than Vance had in 20 years! True fact!

Anonymous said...

You check the facts at Vance and stop listening to things second hand. Wilkes is a great coach who get his kids into colleges. plus he has won two state titles, something Shuford never did. Good hire, and he will win at Olympic. let us know when you get your facts together. Hater!!!

Anonymous said...

Just be happy for the coach and Olympic. Don't bash the guy, it will all be decided on the field. Only time will tell if he will be successful at Olympic.

Anonymous said...

Langston, why is Vance and CMS so quiet about hiring Aaron Brand from Mallard Creek? Would it be because he has been in more trouble than Bill Clinton at a stripper's convention?

Anonymous said...

Langston, why is CMS so quiet and hush hush about hiring Aaron Brand from Mallard Creek? Could it be that Brand has seen his fair share of trouble and they want to hide this little fact?

Anonymous said...

Schools can't announce a hiring if they want that coach to work at that school until they have a position. It is a domino effect. Olympic actually hired Wilkes a month ago, but could not announce. It's all about having one coach leave so another can come. Their announcement will come shortly now that they have a position.

Anonymous said...

Coach Shuford <<<Coach Wilkes
Numbers don't Lie !!!
And unless any of you people were there stop feeding into silly rumors Y'all sound like bunch of highschool kids..lls

Anonymous said...

Coach Wilkes previously won 2 state championships.He sent more kids to school on scholarships & 2 years than the previous 5 years. But he was the wrong guy??? Vance is on downward spiral with some of the most delusional parents & fans in the state. The talent level is not there to compete. No coach on the planet can fix Vance Football.

Anonymous said...

Guys why do we continue to bash schools and coaches? Who cares what any of you think about Wilkes, Brand, Olympic, or Vance. Just say congrats to all on their new coaches and ....WAIT! Stop bashing...ANONYMOUSLY!! Lol 9 times out of 10... The basher has an hidden agenda. Good luck coaches at both of these schools.

Signed Anonymous

Anonymous said...

You are taking it a little to serious. I believe there called opinions. Not Agenda's! You seem to care. :)

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