Myers Park High School announced this week that Duke Howell will serve as its new head football coach, taking over from Chris James, who has stepped down to assume a non‑coaching role at Charlotte Latin School. The appointment marks a strategic shift for a program that has consistently competed at the top tier of North Carolina athletics.
Howell arrives with a three‑year stint at Cuthbertson High School, where he guided the team to two winning seasons and finished with a 16‑17 overall record. His résumé also includes a notable family connection: he is the father of Sam Howell, the former Sun Valley and UNC quarterback now starring for the Dallas Cowboys. That lineage adds a layer of local reverence and expectation to his new responsibilities.
A Competitive Landscape
The Mustangs will operate within one of the Southeast’s most demanding football regions, a landscape that has produced ten state championships for Mecklenburg County schools since 2020. In their inaugural season under Howell, the team will face off against the reigning NCHSAA 8A champion Hough, a rivalry that promises high stakes and heightened visibility.
Last year, under James, Myers Park posted a 9‑3 record and advanced to the N.C. 8A state quarterfinals, a testament to the program’s resilience. Howell inherits a squad that has already demonstrated playoff potential, and he will look to build on that foundation while infusing his own vision and energy.
Myers Park principal Robert Folk expressed enthusiasm about the new direction, stating that Howell’s commitment to the program aligns with the school’s ambition to sustain excellence both on and off the field. The administration believes the coach’s blend of experience and familial ties to the sport will resonate with players, families, and the broader community.