WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – New Hanover High School didn’t have to look far for its next football coach.

John Fuller, who has spent nearly two decades as a Wildcats assistant, will take over for Dylan Dimock as head coach.

As defensive coordinator, Fuller has built New Hanover into one of the Mideastern Conference’s stronger defensive units. He helped the Wildcats win a state championship in 2017.

“It was kind of surreal for me, it didn’t feel real for a long time,” he said Thursday. “I was super excited — numb at the same time. I was ready to get started. I know we got a great group of kids, a great group of coaches, and just the chance to lead those guys was a dream come true.”

Dimock resigned in December after six years as head coach, compiling a 42-23 record. The Wildcats finished 6-5 last season, losing in the first round of the 4A playoffs.

Fuller said he never expected to get to this point, but his goal now is to bring a state championship back to the storied program.

“I wanna put another banner in Brogden Hall,” Fuller said. “We don’t put conference championships titles in there, we hang state banners in Brogden. And I wanna add another one.”

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