One of North Carolina’s high school football coaching openings near the coast has been filled.

According to Chris Miller of the Jacksonville Daily News, Southwest Onslow High School has hired Zach Garvey as its head coach. Garvey is a 2013 graduate of the school.

The Stallions saw value in keeping the program under the direction of someone with ties to the school following Charlie Dempsey’s departure after 10 years.

Southwest has one of the most historic football programs in the eastern half of the state. The Stallions won N.C. High School Athletic Association state championships in 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2013. They also have seven regional championship trophies.

Garvey was a starting offensive lineman on the 2012 1AA state championship team.

Per Miller, Garvey became a part of the coaching staff at his alma mater six years ago. For the past three years, he served as the JV head coach. Southwest has been notably strong on JV of late. Garvey’s JV team went undefeated in the East Central 2A Conference in 2022 and 2023. He currently teaches science.

With an ADM of 797, the Stallions are set to be a 4A program after the upcoming NCHSAA realignment into eight classifications.

In the first draft of the new conferences, which are likely to change, Southwest was placed in a 4A/5A league with fellow 4A East Duplin and 5As Croatan, Dixon, Havelock, Northside-Jacksonville, Richlands, and West Carteret.