Myers Park High football coach Chris James is leaving. What we know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chris James will start as Dean of Students at Charlotte Latin School on July 1, 2024.
- James won a Bill Walsh Diversity Program spot and will work with the Baltimore Ravens.
- Assistant coach Alex Walker will serve as interim head coach while the school searches.
Myers Park High’s Chris James is leaving the school, but he won’t be coaching football this fall.
Only July 1, James, 37, will start a new job as Dean of Students at Charlotte Latin School. And on Sunday, he’ll leave to go work with the Baltimore Ravens, after winning a spot in the Bill Walsh Diversity program.
The program is named for the former 49ers’ Super Bowl-winning coach and seeks to give high school, college and former NFL players a chance to work with pro staffs and pro teams during OTAs, minicamps or training camps.
“I did the same job at Myers Park,” James told The Observer about his new job at Charlotte Latin, “but this is a little different role than I had. I’m not done coaching, but I think it’s time for me to take a year off and see what this internship deal is like (with the Ravens) and use this time to get better. I’ll do a lot of clinics, and see a lot of my guys play (in college) on Saturdays and visit friends that coach. I’ll use this as a professional development year.”
James broke the news to his players on Tuesday afternoon, and he said that was hard.
‘I’ve been there for five years, and it’s been a great ride,” James said. “I will miss that school and that community. They’ve been great to me.”
James started at Myers Park in 2021 as defensive coordinator. In 2023, he became the school’s fourth head coach in fourth seasons. In his first year, the Mustangs were 7-4, delivering Myers Park’s first winning season in three years.
After going a disappointing 4-6 in 2024, Myers Park bounced last fall. The Mustangs were 9-3 and finished second to eventual 8A state champ Hough in the Greater Charlotte conference. They also made a third-round playoff appearance.
“Coach James has been instrumental in shaping the culture of Myers Park football,” said Myers Park principal Robert Folk. “His dedication to our student-athletes and his ability to bring people together has left a lasting impact on our school community. While we are excited for him and this next chapter in his career, he will be greatly missed.”
Folk said that assistant coach Alex Walker will be the Mustangs’ interim coach and that the school will begin a search for a permanent coach in the next few weeks.
Most schools have wrapped up spring ball and will start summer workouts shortly after school graduation in June.
“Coach Walker is well prepared to lead during this transition,” Folk said. “He understands our program’s values and vision and will provide stability as we begin the search for our next head coach.”
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:13 PM.
