Frank Wilson Jr. begins his first year as the cornerbacks coach at Norfolk State University.
Wilson spent the 2022 season under Hall of Fame head coach Mack Brown, at North Carolina, where he served as the Special Teams Coordinator/Analyst.
The Tar Heels Special Teams improved 63 spots, and into the Top 20 in the country in 2022. His punter was a Ray Guy award Nominee, won the Week 3 Ray Guy Award Player of the Week, led the ACC in average punt avg. (5th nationally) and net punt (6th nationally), on his way to becoming UNC’s first All-ACC punter in five years. The return teams excelled as well, finishing 13th nationally and second in the ACC in punt return average (13.3 yrp), with the returner garnering All-ACC accolades, and ninth nationally in kickoff return average (23.7 yrp). He was named Special Teams Analyst of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2022, and On3 called him a “rising star in the coaching ranks.”
Prior to UNC, Wilson briefly served as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach at McNeese State. In his short time there he once again proved to be an effective recruiter; signing two 5-Star specialists, with one becoming an All-American, a 3-Star transfer linebacker who signed with the Bears and a 3-Star cornerback.
Before his time at McNeese State, Wilson served as a Senior Special Teams Analyst at Houston where in 2021, the program won the National Special Teams Foundation’s, Special Teams Analyst of the Year.
The special teams at Houston during Wilson’s two seasons were spectacular. In 2020 the Houston Cougars led the nation in punt return defense, punt return average, set an American Athletic Conference (AAC) record for return yards in a season, had an All-American Returner, and three AAC Special Teams Player of the Week Award winners. They also scored a pair of touchdowns, forced a turnover on kickoff, and converted 80% of their field goals.
In 2021, they raised the bar, scoring four touchdowns on special teams, blocking four punts, and six kicks. They led the country in blocked kicks, blocked punts, return touchdowns, and finished ninth nationally in net field position. His punter, kick returner and punt returner were all-conference selections. His return specialist went on to win the Paul Hornung Award, AAC Special Teams Player of the Year, and achieved Consensus All-American status. Houston also had two players on the list for Special Teams Player of the Year, with the award ultimately going to one of Wilson’s players.
Wilson spent the previous four seasons 2016-19 at Old Dominion coaching Special Teams.
The kickoff return unit finished in the top 30 nationally each year, led C-USA twice, and scored three touchdowns. The punt, punt return, and field goal block units finished in the top 30 nationally on multiple occasions. ODU finished in the top 50 nationally, in overall special teams three times in four seasons. Finishing as high as 18th.
Wilson also coached on defense at Old Dominion, working with the cornerbacks. In 2019 the ODU defense finished in the top 50 nationally. Wilson’s cornerback earned Second Team All-CUSA, as well as Second Team All-PFF. During his time at ODU, Wilson coached ten All Conference Special Teams Players, three C-USA Special Teams Players of the Week, the 2017 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year, and ten current NFL players.
He spent the 2015 campaign at Northwestern State (La.) where he coached the safeties. Wilson’s unit created 14 turnovers, had three sacks, and scored a touchdown.
In 2014, Wilson tutored the Missouri Southern cornerbacks, who accounted for 64 percent of the defensive turnovers (16 total).
The 2013 season was spent as the defensive backs coach at East Stroudsburg University. In his first year working with the secondary, the Warriors finished the season ranked 31st in the nation in total pass defense, an improvement of 133 spots. The secondary contained the conference co-leaders in interceptions, as well as the pass break up leader.
Prior to East Stroudsburg, Wilson was a recruiting intern at the University of Minnesota. While there, he produced unique mailers, built recruiting databases, researched recruits and worked recruiting events and camps. He helped with the 2014 class for the Gophers that resulted in the signing of the Rivals’ 44th-ranked player in the country and 12 three-star Rivals recruits.
During the 2012 season Wilson was a graduate assistant, working on his master’s degree in sport management at East Stroudsburg. He worked with the secondary, special teams units and also was a graphic designer for the team and university.
Before returning to his passion, football, Wilson worked as a national sales manager in the medical/dental industry and in sales for well-known consumer product brands. Wilson also helped launch a 501c non-profit, as well as a social media app.
Wilson played at the University of Dayton under Hall of Fame coach Mike Kelly. The Flyers were 37-7 during his four seasons, won a Pioneer League title and the NCAA Mid-Major National Championship in 2002. He started at corner, while also playing safety, and on special teams at Dayton.
In high school, Wilson played at Georgetown (Texas) High School (Class 5A). There he was a two-time All-District pick, once unanimous, and was selected as All-Central Texas. In Track and Field, Wilson was a Minnesota State Champion and All-State selection.
