Who are Gastonia, Shelby area high school football's winningest active coaches?
There is no shortage of experience among coaches in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.
Of the 19 area coaches, seven have won at least 50 games during their career, with another — East Lincoln’s David Lubowicz — a win shy of joining the club. Only two have reached the 100-win plateau, though, with two more hoping to add their names this fall.
Four coaches — North Lincoln’s Nick Bazzle, Kings Mountain’s Strait Herron, Lubowicz and Shelby’s Mike Wilbanks — have led their teams to state titles.
As the 2023 high school football season nears, here’s how tri-county coaches stack up.
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Nick Bazzle, North Lincoln
Sixth year | 151-73 overall; 39-17 at North Lincoln
Bazzle became a coaching legend at Newton-Conover, where from 1987-2011, winning the 2008 NCHSAA 2A state title, two state runner-up finishes and six league titles. He’s continued his mastery at North Lincoln, leading it to three postseason appearances and the South Fork 2A title in 2019.
Strait Herron, Kings Mountain
First year at school | 117-27 career record
Herron led South Pointe (Rock Hill) to 102 wins in eight seasons (2011-18), including five state titles in seven years. Each of his South Pointe teams won at least 10 games. He most recently coached at Legion Collegiate Academy in Rock Hill, going 15-14 in four seasons.
Chris Medlin, Forestview
17th year | 98-92
Medlin has the longest tenure of area coaches, taking over at Forestview ahead of the 2007 season. The school’s all-time leader in wins, he is two from reaching 100 for his career. Medlin has led the Jaguars to two Big South 3A titles and 13 postseason appearances.
Jim Sosebee, Crest
Second year | 94-54 overall; 9-4 at Crest
Once a tight end for the South Carolina football team, Sosebee has proven to be an adept coach as well. In four seasons at Greenville High in South Carolina, he led the Red Raiders to a 36-13 record. He followed that with 49 wins in six seasons as Hendersonville football coach. Sosebee begins the 2023 season six wins shy of 100 for his career.
Robert Washington, Mountain Island Charter
Ninth year | 59-31
Mountain Island Charter has finished with a winning record in six of eight seasons under Washington. The Raptors earned at least eight wins in four of those, including a program-high 11 wins and a share of the Southern Piedmont 1A title in 2019.
Adam Hodge, South Point
Seventh year | 56-20
A member of South Point’s 2003 NCHSAA 3A state title team, Hodge was named head coach of his alma mater in Feb. 2017. Hodge has led the Red Raiders to three seasons of 10 wins or more (2017, 2021 and 2022); consecutive appearances in the 3A West final (2021, 2022) and the 2017 Southwestern 2A title.
David Devine, Burns
Ninth year | 56-42
Devine moved to No. 2 on Burns’ all-time wins list last fall. His 56 victories trail only legendary coach Ron Greene, who won 174 games from 1984 through 2007. Burns has three 10-win seasons under Devine, in addition to a pair of league titles and two regional final berths.
David Lubowicz, East Lincoln
Seventh year | 49-23
First hired as an East Lincoln assistant in 2007, Lubowicz ascended to the role of head coach in 2017. The Mustangs have qualified for the playoffs in five of his six seasons, including a 16-0 run on their way to the 2022 NCHSAA 3A state championship.
Mike Wilbanks, Shelby
Fifth year | 42-10
A longtime assistant, Wilbanks was promoted to head coach shortly following the 2018 season. His tenure got off to a roaring start, the Golden Lions finishing with a 14-1 record and the NCHSAA 2AA state title. Wilbanks led the Golden Lions to another 2A state title (fall 2021).
Ben McMillan, Stuart Cramer
10th year | 42-57
McMillan has been at the helm of Stuart Cramer’s football program since day one. He has led the Storm to four winning seasons, including a program-high eight wins in 2018. Stuart Cramer has made the playoffs five times under McMillan, including a postseason victory in 2017.
Other area coaches
Darren Ponder, West Lincoln: 32-13 (fifth year)
J.T. Postell, East Gaston: 28-27 overall; 16-15 at East Gaston (fourth year)
Tim Pruitt, Cherryville: 26-62 (ninth year)
Darius James, Ashbrook: 10-16 (fourth year)
Randy Thompson, Hunter Huss: 5-19 (fourth year)
Shane Short, Bessemer City: 3-8 (second year)
Dan Rothwell, North Gaston: 0-10 (second year)
Jaden Angle, Lincolnton: first year
Jimmy White, Highland Tech: first year
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA football: Gastonia, Shelby area's winningest active coaches
