Wagner Surrey High School has announced a new head football coach and athletic director to fill the position vacated by the resignation of Willie Fox, who took the head coaching position at Swansea High School. Blaise Gillespie was hired as the War Eagles' head football coach, and Corey Erskine was named athletic director.
The following is an official release from Wagner Surry High School.
WSHS is pleased to announce the hiring of Coach Blaise Gillespie as the new head coach of the War Eagles. Gillespie is his coach at South Carolina and North Carolina where he has over 12 years of coaching experience. He comes from his 3A state runner-up Camden High School. While a member of the Bulldogs' coaching staff, he served as special teams coordinator and co-defensive coordinator, as well as the JV head coach and baseball coach.
Prior to joining Camden, Coach Gillespie spent five years in Lee County, South Carolina as the Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator at Lee Central High School under Coach Justin Danner. While at Lee Central, Coach Gillespie participated in the school's first regional championship. He also served as head track and field coach and assistant baseball coach during his time with the Stallions.
In North Carolina, Coach Gillespie spent the beginning of his coaching career on the offensive side at Douglas Byrd High School in Cumberland County. He coached the Eagles during the “Stone Age” under Russell Stone, and the Eagles won three consecutive conference championships.
Coach Gillespie began his coaching career while serving in the United States Army. He served at Fort Bragg, South Korea, Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Still, Oklahoma. He has a combined record of 104-42 with 10 playoff seasons, 6 regional championships, 1 sub-state championship and 1 state championship appearance as part of his three coaching staffs. Masu.
Wagner Surry High School is looking forward to welcoming Coach Gillespie to our team and is pleased to have him join the War Eagle family.
Wagner Surry High School is excited to announce the hiring of Cory Erskine as the school's new Director of Athletics.Coach Erskine will take over as coach. Willie Fox has accepted the head coaching position at Swansea High School. Coach Erskine joined the Wagner Surry High School football staff in 2017 while teaching at Pelion Middle School. He began teaching at Wagner Surrey High School the following year in 2018. During that time, the team went 57-21 and won three regional championships.
Coach Erskine currently serves as a Social Studies Teacher, Assistant Football Coach, Instructional Coach, Leader-N-Me School Coordinator, and Title I Facilitator at Wagner Surry High School. He began his coaching career at Pelion High School, where he coached football, boys basketball, and girls basketball for one year.
She holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education from USC Aiken and a master's degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. He holds certifications in middle school social studies, secondary social studies, secondary principal, and is certified to teach advanced U.S. history.
“I am excited to have this new opportunity at Wagner Surry High School,” Erskine said. “This school is near and dear to my heart and I look forward to leading the way as it transitions to new facilities in the near future. My goal is to continue to strengthen our culture. It’s about building and growing, maintaining athletic excellence and supporting all War Eagles.”
Wagner Salley looks forward to continuing its tradition of athletic excellence under Coach Erskine's leadership.
