Freedom High School’s J.K. Adkins was recognized as North Carolina’s high school football coach of the year for 2023-24 as the National Federation of High School Associations’ Coaches Association released its list of honorees this week.
Adkins, who coached at Mount Airy during the 2023-24 school year, was one of 25 high school coaches across the state who received such recognition, including Eastern Guilford boys wrestling coach Maurice Atwood, who was named the NFHS’ national wrestling coach of the year.
According to information from the NCHSAA, the NFHS honors coaches in the top 10 boys’ and girls’ sports, according to participation numbers, along with a coach for spirit and coaches in one other sport apiece for boys and girls that are not in the top 10. Winners must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award.
Then-Mount Airy football coach J.K. Adkins instructs his team from the sideline during a past season’s game.
The NFHS has been honoring coaches since 1982.
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During the 2023 season, Adkins led Mount Airy to a 16-0 season, capped by the NCHSAA’s 1A state championship with a 21-3 win over Tarboro. The Granite Bears outscored their opponents 809-91 during the season.
It was Mount Airy’s second straight state title following a 15-1 season in 2022. Adkins won his final 30 games and went 44-2 across his final three seasons at Mount Airy, leading the Granite Bears to undefeated Northwest 1A Conference titles each year.
In 2024, Adkins, a 1997 Freedom graduate, returned to Â鶹´«Ã½ and his alma mater to coach the Patriots. He guided Freedom to a 6-5 record, earning the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference’s top 3A seed for the state playoffs.
In addition to Adkins and Atwood, the NFHS’ North Carolina coaches of the year for 2023-24 included Garner’s Danny Barbour (softball), Lumberton’s James Bell (girls wrestling), Greene Central’s Benjamin Brann (baseball), Raleigh Charter’s Jacob Cole (boys swimming), Franklin Academy’s Greggory Duffy (boys tennis), Cherokee’s Ann Gardner (girls basketball), Lejeune’s Bradley Helsel (boys cross country), Lake Norman Charter’s Stewart Isaacs (girls swimming), Swain County’s B.J. Ledford (girls cross country), North Mecklenburg’s Duane Lewis (boys basketball), Weddington’s Angie McDuffie (spirit), Terry Sanford’s Jeff Morehead (boys golf), South Central Pitt’s William Nicholson (girls golf), Mount Tabor’s Christopher Page (boys indoor track and field), Swain County’s Keith Payne (girls indoor track and field), Jacksonville’s Amanda Pelch (girls soccer), Union Pines’ Dan Proud (girls lacrosse), First Flight’s Juan Ramirez (boys soccer), Swain County’s Ian Roper (girls track and field), Lake Norman Charter’s Kim Schild (girls tennis), Middle Creek’s Jodi Scoggins (volleyball), Green Level’s Kyle Sopko (boys lacrosse) and Mallard Creek’s Samuel Willoughby (boys track and field).
