The Long Road to the Whistle: Coach Andrea Quinerly's Journey to Head Coach

The Long Road to the Whistle: Coach Andrea Quinerly's Journey to Head Coach

By Trey Scott

CHOCOWINITY — Some men are built for coaching, but not all of them get their shot when they expect it. Andrea Quinerly, known to many as "Coach Q," knows that better than most. For 25 years, he dedicated himself to the game, waiting for an opportunity that often seemed just out of reach. But patience, perseverance, and passion have finally placed him where he belongs—at the helm of Southside High School’s football program.

Quinerly’s journey is a testament to endurance, loyalty, and an undying love for the game. A former player at Greene Central High School, he always thought his first head coaching job would come at his alma mater. He put in the work, coaching under three different head coaches, building his resume, and refining his defensive mind. But the opportunity never materialized.

Instead, Quinerly found himself following longtime friend and colleague Jeff Carrow to Southside, where he served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He built a reputation as a fierce, strategic leader who understood how to maximize talent. Yet, time after time, when head coaching positions opened up, his name was passed over.

“I was satisfied with what I was doing,” Quinerly admitted. “But when the opportunity finally arose, it was just very exciting.”

That opportunity came when Carrow, after 12 seasons, stepped down as head coach to focus more on his family. Carrow’s tenure was one of resilience and adaptation. He began his head coaching career with a 3-9 record in 2013, but within two years, he had led the program to a 12-2 season. Six of his twelve seasons were winning campaigns, highlighted by an 11-2 run in 2021-22. But in the last two years, Southside struggled, culminating in a 1-10 finish last season.

Now, it's Quinerly’s turn to lead the program back to prominence.

“It’s very family-oriented here. It’s a small school, a rural school, and it reminds me a lot of where I originally coached,” Quinerly said of his decision to take the Southside job. “The type of kids, the community—it just felt right.”

The Coaches Who Shaped Him

Every great coach is molded by those who came before them. For Quinerly, four names stand out: Spence Grantham, Jim Bob Bryant, Kenneth Grantham, and Jeff Carrow.

“They all left their mark on me,” Quinerly said. “But if I had to choose one who really inspired me to coach, it would be Spence Grantham.”

Grantham, who coached Quinerly at Greene Central, became the first mentor in his coaching career. It was under Grantham’s guidance that Quinerly developed not just an understanding of the game but also an appreciation for the human side of coaching.

“Passion,” Quinerly said when asked what he learned from Grantham. “Not just for the game, but for each individual athlete. He had a knack for getting the most out of every player. He cared about them in different ways. He was the first father figure I had outside of my own father.”

Another coach who helped shape Quinerly’s philosophy was Jim Bob Bryant, a North Carolina high school coaching legend. Under Bryant, Quinerly saw firsthand the importance of evolving with the game. He learned how to harness speed, not just size, as a weapon on the field.

“Football used to be smash-mouth, power football,” Quinerly said. “Now, the game is played on every inch of the field. Athletes have changed. They’re stronger, faster, bigger. You have to adapt.”

Bryant taught Quinerly how to develop that speed, a lesson that even led him to coaching track. “Speed is more important than people give it credit for,” Quinerly said. “And I took that from Coach Bryant.”

Preparing for the Role

Even as he continued to wait for his chance to be a head coach, Quinerly’s role as Southside’s athletic director helped shape him in ways he never anticipated.

“Being an AD put me in charge of things from the managerial side—not just X’s and O’s,” he explained. “It prepared me for everything that goes into running a program, from handling academics to recruiting and beyond. Looking back, I probably wasn’t as ready as I thought I was six or eight years ago.”

Now, he feels prepared in every way.

Building a Program

The first order of business for Coach Q? Assembling a staff that embodies a variety of perspectives and coaching styles.

“I put together the best staff I could,” he said. “I’ve got a little bit of old-school smash-mouth, a coach who’s very analytic, young energy, and a coach who leads by example. It’s a mix of everything you need.”

That staff will also include Carrow, who remains with the program as the offensive line coach. “He’s a great friend and a great coach,” Quinerly said. “He’s going to be my run coordinator. He loves smash-mouth football, and I’m going to use that.”

A Vision for Southside

So what can Southside expect from Coach Q’s program?

“They can expect us to use every inch of the field,” he said. “We’re going to put our best athletes out there and play fast, physical football. But more than anything, we’re going to build young men.”

For Quinerly, coaching has always been about more than just wins and losses. It’s about shaping the next generation. “My mission is simple: Get as many kids to college football as I can. Make better citizens, better husbands, better fathers. And build a successful program along the way.”

It’s a vision shaped by his own experiences—both the successes and the regrets. Quinerly played college football at Gardner-Webb but never finished his time there. It’s a decision that has fueled him ever since.

“My coach once told me, ‘Make sure this is what you want to do, because if you quit, you’re taking an opportunity away from another kid,’” he said. “I’ve spent my entire coaching career trying to replace that spot I took. Now, as a head coach, I have the chance to help even more kids get to the next level.”

The Moment He Earned

For 25 years, Quinerly waited for his shot. He watched others take positions he thought could have been his. He remained loyal, patient, dedicated. Now, he’s where he’s always belonged.

“It was a long time coming,” Quinerly said. “But the timing is perfect.”

Southside is getting a coach who has seen it all, learned from the best, and is ready to build something special. And for Coach Q, the long wait only makes the reward that much sweeter.