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| IUP athletics photo |
Waynesburg is excited to announce the hiring of Larry Wilson as football coach. Wilson comes to Waynesburg after serving as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at NCAA Division II Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion.
“I am excited because this is an opportunity to serve my life’s purpose to develop men through football,” Wilson said. “From the top down, this was a great hiring process. I want to thank everyone involved from President (Douglas) Lee to (Waynesburg athletic director) Tim Fusina to the search committee. I feel like we all aligned in terms of passion and vision for the Waynesburg football program.”
Fusina mirrored Wilson’s enthusiasm for the newest chapter in the 130-year history of Waynesburg football.
“We are thrilled to welcome Larry Wilson and his family to Waynesburg. Coach Wilson’s overall experience and passion to rebuild this program is what set him apart in this search,” Fusina said. “Our football program took a tremendous step forward with this hiring. This is an exciting time for Waynesburg football and the athletic department as a whole.”
Though he spent just one year with the Golden Eagles, he made an immediate and noticeable impact. This past season, Clarion enjoyed its first winning season (6-5) since 2015 and its explosive offense was one of the main reasons for that success. Under Wilson’s leadership, Clarion led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and ranked 20th in all of Division II in total offense per game (433.3 ypg). The Golden Eagles also finished third in the conference and 25th in the country in points per game (34.7 ppg), second in the conference in passing yards per game (273.9) and second in the conference in touchdowns (51).
Wilson also coached first-team All-PSAC West quarterback Anthony Guerico and first-team All-PSAC West wide receiver Davon Jones. His 2025 award haul included second-team All-PSAC West running back Khalon Simmons and offensive linemen Jacob Domer and Josh Steele.
Along with leading the unit on the field and developing the team’s offensive philosophy, Wilson oversaw all recruiting efforts within the offense. Away from the sport, he was in charge of coordinating community service opportunities.
Wilson’s season in Clarion was just the latest entry in a college coaching resume that stretches back to 2005. Before the 2025 campaign, he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Division II national powerhouse Indiana University of Pa.
Over three years with the Crimson Hawks, Wilson showed his versatility as an offensive mind by coaching units that finished in the top four for rushing yards per game in the PSAC every season. They also finished in the top four of the PSAC West in points per game all three years.
Wilson coached a total of 17 All-PSAC honorees over his time at IUP, including 10 first team picks, one of which was wide receiver Duane Brown, who was named 2022 PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year. That same year, quarterback Mak Sexton threw for 2,907 yards and 33 touchdowns, finishing fifth in the NCAA in passing yards and second in the PSAC for passing scores.
During his time at IUP, Wilson not only handled recruiting and philosophy development on the offensive side of the ball, but he worked closely with medical staff and the strength & conditioning department to ensure the year-long health and development of his players.
Wilson’s longest stop on his coaching journey was at Pennsylvania Western University, California, where he held multiple positions over a 16-year run with the Vulcans. He served as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2005 to 2015. He transitioned to the offensive coordinator role in 2013.
No matter what title was on his business card, Williams and Cal enjoyed success, going 146-42 overall with seven trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Under his watch, he coached 12 All-Americans on either special teams or offense and dozens of all-conference performers.
Wilson also displayed yet another facet to his coaching abilities while at Cal by assisting the athletic department in developing fund raising initiatives, garnering corporate sponsorships and organizing camps for not just football, but for all athletic programs on campus.
“Larry has had tremendous success in recruiting the area and building winning programs through supporting his student-athletes in the classroom, on the field and in the community,” Fusina said.
While Wilson is most known for consistent success on offense and special teams, he believes his decades of experience will translate effectively to the Waynesburg defense as well.
“With modern day college football, I believe in being explosive on offense, and you have to match that intensity on the defensive side of the ball,” Wilson said. “We are going to be an energetic, explosive team and we will be effective in the kicking game to support the offense and defense.”
Wilson has forged a long list of contacts in Pennsylvania, particularly the western half, that he will lean on in building Waynesburg back into a contender in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and beyond.
“I have deep roots that have led to building a strong network of contacts in Western Pennsylvania. I feel like those roots are going to afford me a real opportunity to bring in the types of coaches and players that I am looking for,” Wilson said. “I have guys that I’ve coached in the past that are current high school coaches. Those relationships are genuine, and I can’t wait to get out to those high school campuses and others to begin the process of bringing guys we believe in to campus.”
Wilson has also served as assistant athletic director at Ringgold High School and has worked in pro sports as an account executive for ESPN radio in Pittsburgh and as assistant director of baseball operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates while they were competing in spring training in Bradenton, Fla.
Wilson is a 1999 graduate of Slippery Rock, where he earned a bachelor’s in Sport Management. He also played three years of football at The Rock following a playing career at Frazier High School that saw him earn All-PIAA status at wide receiver.