Friday Night Finances: A Look at Western North Carolina Football Coaches Salary (2024–2025)

In North Carolina high school football, coaching salaries vary widely across the state. But in the mountains of Western North Carolina, coaching pay and the duties that come with leading a football program don’t always add up.

Newly available public salary data reveals that Shane Laws of A.C. Reynolds is currently the highest-paid head football coach in the region, pulling in $91,341 annually. Close behind him are Josh Brooks of Franklin ($89,440) and James Phillips of Andrews ($89,430), rounding out a top tier of coaching compensation west of Asheville. The data reflects the 2024-2025 season.

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Spotlight: Smoky Mountain Conference Coaches

Several of these top-earning coaches come from Smoky Mountain Conference schools — a proud and historic collection of small 1A schools in far western North Carolina.

• James Phillips (Andrews) — Among the top three in pay, Phillips led Andrews to recent playoff success, and his $89,430 salary reflects tenure as a former assistant principal.

• Chad McClure (Hayesville) — A staple of Clay County athletics, McClure earns $85,782, placing him fifth regionally.

• Arthur Holt (Swain County) — Two season’s removed from an 11-2 finish and a trip to the 3rd round of the State Playoffs, Holt earns $77,358 and continues to lead a storied Maroon Devil program.

• Joseph Watson (Murphy) — A name tied to one of the state’s most decorated programs, Watson earns $74,276, while also serving as the Athletic Director for Murphy High School.

• Tyrea Allen (Rosman) — Allen earns $64,425 at Rosman, leading one of the smallest programs in the state.

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High school coaching salaries in North Carolina are shaped by:

• Years of teaching experience

• District supplements & coaching stipends

• Additional roles (athletic director, weight room coordinator, etc.)

In many cases, football coaches also serve full-time as teachers, meaning their salary reflects more than just sideline leadership. Most of these local coaches are mowing the grass, painting lines on the field, driving busses to and from games, and coaching other sports in the offseason to help make ends meet and to help sustain opportunities for their athletes.

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Final Thoughts

In the hills of Western North Carolina, coaching high school football is more than just a job, it’s a calling. And while some coaches earn over $90,000, others are making much less despite leading programs with deep playoff histories. From the Smoky Mountain Conference to the 4A powerhouses of Buncombe County, these salaries show who’s being rewarded, and who may be overdue for a raise. Yesterday we posted the Top 25 highest paid coaches in Georgia, and Joey King of Carrollton was cited as bringing in more than 210k a year. Every coach on the top 100 highest paid Georgia High School coaches list was bringing in over $100,000, and just a short drive away here in North Carolina, only 4 coaches in the whole state eclipse the 100k mark.

And yet we wonder why we cannot retain the top young coaches and teachers.