After two months, Montgomery Central High School found its next head football coach in Jack Carpenter.

Carpenter had been the defensive coordinator on staff under Chris Metzger, who announced his departure in November.

Montgomery Central shared the news of Carpenter’s promotion to its Facebook account but provided minimal details.

Carpenter is a class of 2016 graduate of Pinecrest High School, where he played under Metzger. As a senior at Pinecrest, Carpenter was honored with the Burlsworth Character Award, which only 50 student athletes in the country receive a year. He was also a standout on the baseball team.

Following high school, Carpenter attended NC State University and became a student assistant coach under Dave Doeren. Area coaches view Carpenter as a bright young riser in the coaching ranks.

Montgomery Central is coming off of a 6-5 overall season in 2024. The Timberwolves made the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A West playoffs. They fell on the road at South Point in the first round by a score of 42-7.

The team is set to have 18 starters returning from the playoff team.

With an ADM of 1,117, Montgomery Central is set to become a 5A team after the upcoming realignment. In the second draft of proposed conferences by the NCHSAA, Montgomery was placed in a 4A/5A league with 4As Central Davidson, Ledford, Lexington, Randleman, T.W. Andrews, and fellow 5A High Point Central. These conferences are subject to change following the appeals period.