Charlotte 49ers

Former Panthers coach Steve Wilks joins Charlotte 49ers in volunteer advisory role

Panthers Head Coach Steve Wilks walks off the field after a win over the Lions, 37-23, on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
Panthers Head Coach Steve Wilks walks off the field after a win over the Lions, 37-23, on Saturday, December 24, 2022. mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com

The Charlotte 49ers have added an experienced football coach to their program.

Steve Wilks, the NFL coach who attended West Charlotte and recently coached the Carolina Panthers, is volunteering with the Charlotte 49ers’ football team as an untitled advisor, head coach Biff Poggi said at the opening practice of training camp on Friday.

Wilks’ role with Charlotte is voluntary, a team spokesperson confirmed to the Observer.

“Steve Wilks is gonna be with us,” Poggi said Friday. “Not official now. You talk about great wisdom and advisors. So we brought in some experience.”

Poggi added that Wilks’ advisory role is “untitled,” and confirmed that the longtime NFL assistant will be “around.”

The former Appalachian State defensive back and longtime NFL assistant was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers last year and guided them to their appearance in Super Bowl LVII.

Wilks will be alongside a coaching staff in University City that includes longtime NFL and college assistant Tim Brewster — who joined Charlotte following two seasons with Deion Sanders — as its associate head coach.

This story was originally published August 2, 2024 at 1:11 PM.

Shane Connuck
The Charlotte Observer
Shane Connuck is a former journalist for The Charlotte Observer
Mike Kaye
The Charlotte Observer
Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription
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