John Paul II School goes to North Carolina to make football coaching hire
John Paul II School has its new football coach.
Concord High (NC) offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shayne Milligan will be the new Warriors’ coach. He made the announcement on social media Monday night.
Milligan replaces Chris Meyers, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Hampton High School.
“I’ve been very selective over HC opportunities and openings over the past three years because I wanted to make sure I was in the right fit. When I saw the original opening at John Paul II in late February, early March it spoke to me,” Milligan said. “Understanding that it was a school with a small enrollment would allow me to still be efficient and effective as a special education teacher on the academic side of things. Also understanding that it is a school that is only 10 years old made me aware of opportunities of growth.
“I’m leaving a school with over 100 years of history and tradition and I wanted to have my own part in developing history and tradition at a relatively new school.”
Milligan said that he and his wife will be able to raise their three children in a Catholic environment, which is also a big plus in the job.
Milligan has been at Concord High, a Class 3A school, since 2018. Before that he was an assistant at Avery County and Porter Ridge High schools, both in North Carolina. At Porter Ridge, he worked with current Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall for three seasons.
The Warriors are coming off a 4-7 season but will return quarterback Christian Tilton, who was Lowcosports.com SCISA Offensive Player of the Year.
Tilton ran for 1,750 yards, threw for 904 with 29 total touchdowns. On defense, he had 63 tackles and two interceptions.
“I’ve always been a part of offenses that are driven by dynamic quarterbacks and one look at Christian Tilton was the icing on the cake for me,” Milligan said. “That and doing my research of the returning roster being very sophomore and junior heavy confirmed my beliefs of room for growth.
“Finally, the JPII community is very supportive and creates a great family atmosphere that I’ve dreamed of raising my family in.”
Milligan says he plans to come and meet the players and parents on April 23-24. He will then return to NC and finish the track and field season, where he is Concord’s head coach before moving down after the school year.
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