CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the 24 hours after Charlotte native Steve Wilks was announced as the Carolina Panthers interim head coach, the West Charlotte High alum estimated he received around 300 text messages from friends and family.
While Wilks said Tuesday that he is humbled to have the opportunity to lead his hometown team, the new interim head coach also admitted that he is more focused on winning — or as team owner David Tepper would say, “getting over the hump.”
“Yes, I’m excited about being here, being from Charlotte, but the focus is not about me,” Wilks said. “The focus is about this organization and making sure that we do everything we can to get back on track.”
Wilks, who received the interim post following Monday’s firing of Matt Rhule, dismissed defensive coordinator Phil Snow and special teams assistant coach Ed Foley immediately after the promotion. Wilks said he wanted to go in a different direction with the defense and staff.
“Two great men, two great coaches,” Wilks said. “It was my call and my decision. I just felt like I wanted a different approach moving forward, and that was all.”
Wilks promoted longtime colleague Al Holcomb to the position of defensive coordinator. He also has given cornerbacks coach Evan Cooper more responsibility with the secondary, a group Wilks previously oversaw.
Holcomb previously served as Rhule’s defensive running game coordinator throughout his tenure. But Wilks — who previously served as the Arizona Cardinals head coach in 2018 — wanted Holcomb to be his defensive play-caller.
Wilks admitted that Holcomb is his sounding board on the staff.
“Al is someone that I’ve been around for a long time, someone I trust,” Wilks said. “Very smart guy, understands the game, has been here before with this organization when we had success — I’ve had success with him — great rapport with the players and I know he’s going to get (the defense) going in the right direction.”
The Cardinals received heavy criticism after firing Wilks after a lone 3-13 season in 2018. Wilks — along with former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores — is part of a lawsuit against the NFL that alleges racial discrimination in hiring practices by the league.
When asked about the fairness of his dismissal from Arizona, Wilks chose not address the specifics of that situation.
“I’m not really going to go down that road and talk about what’s fair,” Wilks said. “I’m living in the present. I’m excited about where we are right now, and the opportunity I have right now.”
Wilks said he and GM Scott Fitterer have already gotten on the same page with the roster.
Wilks believes communication is very important between the head coach and the front office.
“He’s just been very supportive in that process,” Wilks said about Fitterer.
With a focus on Week 6’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the Panthers staff has already begun its game-planning process, according to Wilks. The head coach will now look to a spark a mid-season turnaround with 12 games remaining.
“I think the guys are in good spirits,” Wilks said. “Of course, change is always difficult, but they understand that this is a business. And my approach with them is, ‘We can’t worry about what has happened in the past, we’ve got to focus on the future, and most importantly, we’ve got a lot of games left.’ And I feel like we haven’t really hit the stretch of the bulk of our division yet, but we’re going to take it one game at a time, and I feel like we have some time to turn it around.”
On Monday, Tepper called Wilks a “leader of men.” On Tuesday, Wilks provided a definition of what that term means to him.
“I would say I’m very authentic, and I’m a leader of people,” Wilks said. “And I’m genuine in my approach. I’m sincere. I’m going to tell you the truth, whether you like it or not. And I think when you have that type of approach, players and people appreciate that.”
Tepper and Wilks hope those qualities will bring out the best in the current roster.
“I feel like we have the talent in that locker room,” Wilks said. “We have the men that want to get it done. Our work ethic has been consistent from the standpoint of how we go about each and every day, as far as practice — we’ve just got to out in a game and execute and finish.
“I feel very confident in the men we have, and knowing that we are going to turn the corner.”
