GARRETT WINGATE NAMED AYDEN-GRIFTON HEAD COACH, BRINGS 18 YEARS OF CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
AYDEN — Garrett Wingate’s coaching career has taken him from East Carolina University’s sideline to the NFL, from the fields of North Pitt to the grand stage of the NCHSAA state championship. And now, after nearly two decades of relentless grinding, learning, and building, Wingate is right where he wants to be — at the helm of the Ayden-Grifton Chargers.
This isn’t just a promotion. This is a full-circle moment for a man who’s never lost sight of what matters: people, culture, and doing things the right way.
“I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” Wingate said with a smile. “But thankfully, I was blessed with big feet.”
A Transition Years in the Making
Wingate takes over for legendary coach Paul Cornwell, who officially retired from the sidelines after leading a stunning two-year turnaround at Ayden-Grifton. Cornwell stepped away briefly in 2019-20 before returning in 2023 to guide a once-proud program that had just finished an 0-10 season.
In typical Cornwell fashion, he wasted no time. In 2023, Ayden-Grifton finished 3-7. In 2024, the Chargers exploded to an 8-5 record, claimed a conference championship, and reached the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
Now, Cornwell steps into a new role as the Pitt County Schools Athletic Director — and leaves the program in the hands of someone who’s not just capable, but ready.
“Coach Cornwell and I share the same morals, the same values, the same love for the game and for these kids,” Wingate said. “What made him who he is has shaped who I am. This isn’t about replacing him. It’s about continuing what he built — and taking it even further.”
From College Sidelines to High School Game-Changer
Wingate's resume is as complete as they come. A 2006 graduate of North Pitt High School, his coaching career began at East Carolina University in 2007, where he worked under head coaches Skip Holtz and Ruffin McNeill. He learned defensive concepts under coordinator Greg Hudson, served as a clipboard and headset guy on gamedays, and even absorbed the offensive principles of the air raid system from none other than Lincoln Riley.
“I like to say I learned professionalism from Holtz, and offense from Coach Ruff and Lincoln,” Wingate said. “I got to see football from multiple perspectives, and that shaped what I believe in today.”
After ECU, Wingate spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL preseason internship.
“That was a different world — it’s a business at that level,” he said. “What I learned is that football is still football, whether you’re coaching PE or the pros. But the expectations, the preparation — those change at every level.”
The Return Home: High School Stops and Championship Runs
Wingate returned to his roots to begin impacting lives at the high school level. His first stop was North Pitt, where he served in a variety of roles for six years — from offensive and defensive line coach to JV head coach, offensive coordinator, and even interim varsity head coach in 2017.
From there, he joined the staff at J.H. Rose before taking over as offensive coordinator at Northern Nash — a move that would bring instant results. In 2022, Northern Nash finished 15-1, scored a jaw-dropping 621 points, and made it all the way to the 3A state championship game.
“I walked in on day one, no summer workouts, no install — just practice,” Wingate said. “We implemented our offense, and it clicked. That year confirmed to me that what we do works.”
The Northern Nash offense wasn’t just efficient. It was explosive, balanced, and adaptable — the kind of system that gets players recruited and keeps defenses on their heels.
“The best offense isn’t the flashiest,” Wingate said. “It’s what your kids can learn, what you can teach, and what they can execute. Whether it’s the wing-T or the air raid — it all works. It’s about knowing your personnel and maximizing them.”
The Ayden-Grifton Rebuild: A Culture Revival
Wingate joined Cornwell at Ayden-Grifton in 2023 with one goal: to rebuild. The Chargers were coming off an 0-10 season with no JV program. But Wingate didn’t see a broken program — he saw an opportunity.
“I had just come from two state title games,” he said. “But I didn’t want a polished program. I wanted to see if what I believe in could help turn a struggling program around.”
Wingate notable played up Cornwell for one season at North Pitt.
He reached out to Cornwell, offering to join the staff — no titles, no ego, just a desire to help.
“He asked me, ‘You just left a championship team. You sure about this?’” Wingate said. “And I told him, ‘Yes. I believe in you. I believe in what we can do here.’”
The rest is history.
In 2023, Ayden-Grifton finished 3-7 with 179 points scored. In 2024, the Chargers put up 372 points in 13 games, won a JV championship, a varsity conference title, and made a deep playoff run. The offensive turnaround mirrored the team’s confidence.
“It was surreal to see everything clicking,” Wingate said. “When you love what you do, and your kids buy in — you can build something special.”
Cornwell's Departure, Wingate’s Moment
With Cornwell stepping into the county-wide role as athletic director, the question loomed — who would carry the torch?
It was far from a lock. Ayden-Grifton’s coaching staff is filled with proven leaders: Coach Trip, a longtime OC at Greene Central. Steve Brooks, a former head coach. Tyler Hale, who led Jones Senior. Each had the experience and resume.
Wingate didn’t expect a guarantee. But the administration saw what many already knew — he was the right fit.
“We’ve got an incredible staff,” Wingate said. “We’ve got Coach Trip who’s been a longtime OC and is one of the sharpest minds I’ve worked with. Coach Steve Brooks has been a head coach. Coach Tyler Hale was the head coach at Jones Senior. Every one of them is deserving. We have one of the most talented, experienced staffs in the area — and I’m just humbled the administration trusted me to lead the charge.”
The Vision Moving Forward
As the new head coach, Wingate isn’t looking to overhaul — he’s looking to elevate. And he’s got a message for the Ayden-Grifton community:
“You’re not getting someone brand new,” he said. “You’re getting someone who believes in the same values, who’s going to love these kids, and who’s going to pour everything into this town. I may have big shoes to fill — but I’ve got the big feet for the job.”
In 18 years of coaching, Wingate has racked up 117 wins, helped guide teams to six conference titles, two eastern regional championships, and two state title appearances. He’s coached six East-West All-Star selections and two Shrine Bowl athletes — just in the past two seasons.
But more than the accolades, he’s focused on relationships.
“It’s not about me,” Wingate said. “It’s about our kids. It’s about giving them the best version of myself every day and helping them believe in what they’re capable of.”
The belief is already there — from the community, from the staff, and from a new generation of Chargers ready to follow their leader.
Ayden-Grifton isn’t just rebuilding anymore. They’re back — and with Coach Garrett Wingate in charge, the future looks as strong as it’s ever been.
The Interview: Question & Answers
Q: Coach, how many years have you been coaching now? Wingate: I started coaching really back in college. As soon as I got to ECU, I was helping out with the football team. That started around 2007. So, all in all, I’ve been coaching since 2007 — almost 18 years now.
Q: That started at ECU, right? What was that experience like before you even stepped into high school football? Wingate: It was invaluable. I started in the equipment room under Skip Holtz, then worked under defensive coordinator Greg Hudson. I was a clipboard guy, on the headset on the sidelines during games. I learned how a program should run — how to do it professionally. When Coach Ruffin McNeill took over, I got to learn their version of the Air Raid from Lincoln Riley. That whole time helped shape what I believe in — the structure, the system, the standard.
Q: And then you had a stint in the NFL with the Buccaneers, right? Wingate: Yeah, I interned during preseason with Tampa Bay. That was awesome. The biggest thing you learn at that level is that it’s a business. Every day is a job interview. They’re the best at what they do for a reason. From high school PE to the NFL, football is football — but the expectations and preparation at each level are completely different.
Q: This is your first official head coaching role, correct? Wingate: Yeah, first time without the "interim" tag. I was interim head coach at North Pitt back in 2017 when Brent Wooten left for Havelock. This is my first full-time head coaching job.
Q: Most folks know you from your time at Northern Nash. How big was that season for you, knowing your offense could work at an elite level? Wingate: That year was huge. The year before I was at Rose and watched Caleb King run a great offense, and it made me reflect — “What do I know? Can I take that and apply it?” When I got to Northern Nash, I had no summer, no installs. Just showed up and went to work. We implemented our system and had success fast. Yeah, we had some talented kids, but I believe in what we do — it’s simple enough, flexible enough, and effective enough to work at any level.
Q: Do you think it’s important to run a modern offense to help kids get to the next level? Wingate: I think everything works if you believe in it and teach it well. Teams still run Wing-T and get kids to college. Air Raid still works. It’s about what your kids can do and what you as a coach can teach them. The best offense is the one your players can execute.
Q: You’re now heading into your third year at Ayden-Grifton. How big was the rebuild with Coach Cornwell? Wingate: Huge. When I joined two years ago, the program was in a rough spot. I never expected Coach Cornwell to return to coaching, but I always wanted to work with him. He coached me when I was a freshman at North Pitt. We stayed close through the years — he's been a mentor. After being in two straight state title games at Rose and Northern Nash, I wanted to go somewhere that needed rebuilding. I believed in Cornwell’s culture. The first year we had no JV program and won just three games. This past season we had JV and varsity conference championships and a third-round playoff run. It’s been incredible to watch that growth.
Q: When Cornwell stepped down, was there a message to you about being the next guy? Wingate: No promises. And we’ve got an amazing staff. Coach Trip — longtime OC at Greene Central. Steve Brooks — former head coach. Tyler Hale — led Jones Senior. All of them are incredibly deserving. But the administration came to me and said, “Would you like to take this thing over?” I was humbled. I really was.
Q: What’s your message to the Ayden-Grifton community now that you're the head coach? Wingate: What you got with Coach Cornwell is what you’ll get from me. Our morals, our values — they align. I’m going to pour everything I’ve got into this community and this program. I may have some big shoes to fill, but thank goodness I was blessed with big feet. No one’s going to outwork me or out-love this program.
Q: Any last words? Anything else I should add? Wingate: Not really. I trust you, man. You’ve got the story. Just know I’m an open book. I may get in trouble for being too honest sometimes, but I love telling the truth.
