The Wingard Era Has Arrived

Wingard is a native of the Acworth area where he played high school football for the Etowah Eagles. He then went on to play college football for Georgia Southern. At Southern, Wingard was an anchor for the Eagles in the interior defensive line. He graduated in 2008.

The following year, Wingard got his first chance at a coaching job as a lay coach at Gilmer High School. After one year in grad school, Wingard coached defensive line at Alpharetta High School. After three seasons, Wingard began to miss the small town atmosphere where he first started coaching and decided to come back to Gilmer in 2013, where he assisted Coach Wesley Tankersley with the defensive line.

After the Tank era, Wingard coached under Gilmer’s previous two coaches, Zach Grage and Jason Galt. After the releasing of Galt, Wingard was named the new Interim head coach for the Gilmer Bobcats.

Wingard’s practices are characterized by control, organization, and a good atmosphere altogether. After being asked how the players are handling everything that has happened the past week, Coach Wingard said, “They have handled everything phenomenally! I would not trade these players for anything in the world.” As far as how he is handling the whirlwind of events in Gilmer football, Wingard says, “It has been stressful and crazy, but I am excited for this opportunity. I just need the kids to stay focused and we need to beat Murphy.”

Coach Wingard and the Bobcats will face Murphy this Friday night for the homecoming game in Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium.