CARLISLE – After a month-and-a-half, Carlisle did not have to go very far to find the program’s next head football coach as Gary Wilson was unanimously approved by the school board on Monday evening.

“Growing up all I wanted to do is play football at Carlisle, so 20 years later getting to lead the program I could not be any more excited,” Wilson said via phone call.

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Wilson took over as defensive coordinator last season after previously serving as the junior high head coach and helped lead the Bison to the Class 2A state finals last fall. His unit in 2022 was one of the best in 2A allowing just 17.4 points per game, including four shutouts.

A 2004 Carlisle graduate, Wilson was an all-conference running back and linebacker for the Bison. He takes the reins from Caleb Shock who stepped away from coaching in December to pursue a career in insurance after compiling a 29-29-1 record through five seasons.

“Coach Shock did an outstanding job developing toughness and accountability in our kids to want to be successful,” Wilson said. “We are going to continue doing that. We are going to put a team out there that is going to be tough and physical. There are going to be games where we are out-athleted, but we feel like with the brand that we are going to put on the field and how hard we are going to play is going to keep us in every game.”