State champion coach Trent Lowman leaves East Surry for West Stokes
Pilot Mountain's East Surry High School will have a new head football coach for the first time since 2018. The school announced on Tuesday that successful leader Trent Lowman has resigned. Later in the morning, West Stokes High School in King announced that Lowman was its new head coach.
Lowman led East Surry to a 15-0 season in 2019 that resulted in a 1AA state championship. In the state final, East Surry blasted Tarboro 56-28.
"We regret to announce that Trent Lowman has resigned as Head Football Coach at East Surry," the East Surry's athletic department posted to its X account. "We thank him for his dedication and commitment to the young men in our program and for his leadership over the past 6 years. He has been a positive influence in the lives of our young men, and for that we will always be grateful! We wish him the best. The search for the new Head Coach of our football program will begin immediately. We look forward to finding the next leader who will positively shape the lives of our Cardinals, both on and off the field. Go Cards!"
Lowman produced an exceptional 68-12 overall record in his time leading the Pilot Mountain, NC program. He led East Surry back to the 1AA state championship in the spring 2021 pandemic season, where the Cardinals fell to Tarboro.
West Stokes is a 2A school like East Surry, but plays in the Mid-State 2A Conference. East Surry plays in the Foothills 2A. East Surry finished with an 8-4 overall record last season, while West Stokes finished 7-5 overall.
Lowman is replacing Jimmy Upchurch, the winningest coach in the history of Stokes County. West Stokes won the 2011 2AA state championship under Upchurch.
