EDITOR’S NOTE: This story will be updated.
The top high school defensive coordinator in North Carolina is the new head football coach at Bloomington North.
Former Cougar lineman Andy Harding was lured back from Tarboro, NC and it’s ultra-successful program to take over at his alma mater and was officially approved at the MCCSC board meeting on Tuesday, April 28.
Harding takes over for Brett Cooper, who left after one season to take over at Class 6A powerhouse Ben Davis. Harding will be the third coach in three years for the Cougars following Scott Bless’ retirement. North still went 15-7 the past two seasons.
Harding is a 2000 North grad and played under Jeff Scalf, who stepped down after the 1999 season. He went on to play at Manchester.
While at Tarboro, he helped guide nine teams to state titles and the latest came in 2025 after a 15-0 season.
Afterward, Harding was named the Broyles Award winner for North Carolina as the state’s top assistant coach. Head coach Jeff Craddock was named the head coach for the state’s annual Shrine Bowl game against South Carolina’s senior all-stars and named Harding to be one of his assistants for the game.
Tarboro is a school of just over 500 and is located about 70 miles east of Raleigh.
Harding will guide the Cougars into a new era when they begin play in the Mid-State Conference this fall.
North’s Werczynski takes over Paoli
North assistant and former Cougar standout Sam Werczynski has been named the new head coach at Paoli.
Werczynski, a 2020 Cougar grad, played at Hanover and worked with the defensive backs since his return in 2023, Scott Bless’ final year as head coach.
The Rams went 49-17 in six years under Neil Dittmer, averaging 40 ppg in the last five seasons, but haven’t won a sectional since 2018, running into Brownstown, North Posey and Triton Central each time. Dittmer, who has also been Paoli’s softball coach for more than a decade, is moving up into administration and will be became an assistant principal.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington North hires alum Andy Harding as new football coach
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
