New Hanover High School has zeroed in on its next head football coach: the program will be led by John Fuller.

Fuller had been serving as the defensive coordinator.

The Wildcats underwent a two-month search after since previous head coach Dylan Dimock stepped down in December.

Dimock took over the program in 2019 and led it for six seasons.

According to multiple sources, the job opening attracted the attenion of multiple current/former head coaches in North Carolina.

New Hanover is coming off of a 6-5 overall finish in 2024. The Wildcats made the N.C. High School Athletic Associaiton’s 4A East playoffs but fell on the road at Pinecrest in the first round.

The Wildcats’ program has four state championship titles in its history. The most recent state championship was the 3AA title over A.C. Reynolds in 2017.

With an average daily membership of 1,691 students this school year, New Hanover will be a 7A program following the NCHSAA’s realignment into eight classifications. In the third draft of the propsed new conferences for realignment, New Hanover was placed in a 6A/7A/8A league with 6A West Brunswick, fellow 7As Ashely, North Brunswick, and Topsail, as well as 8As Hoggard and Laney. The conference plans are subject to change if they are not approved by the Board of Directors.