Eddie Gwaltney, a 1969 graduate of Atlantic Christian College, had one of the most distinguished athletic coaching careers in the state of North Carolina as he excelled in a most unusual combination of tennis and football.

Eddie was a four-year player on the Bulldogs’ Men’s Tennis Team and served as ACC’s Head Coach in 1980 and 1981 while guiding the Bulldogs to the ’80 NAIA District 26 Championship.

After graduating from ACC, however, Eddie taught and coached at Ralph L. Fike High School in Wilson, N.C., where he led the boys’ tennis team to six conference titles, five Eastern Section Championships and an overall record of 112-8 from 1971 to 1978.   Eddie took players to the state championship in Chapel Hill, N.C., all seven years.

After a stint at Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro, N.C., Eddie settled into an illustrious 23-year career at James B. Hunt High School in Wilson, N.C. (1981-2004).

As Hunt’s Head Boys’ Tennis Coach, Eddie coached the Warriors to four league titles and three regional championships.  Eddie also headed up the Warriors’ women’s tennis squad from 1997 to 2003.

Eddie’s coaching career as an assistant prep football coach spans nearly two decades and his tenure as Director of Athletics at Hunt includes 81 conference titles, seven regional championships and three state titles.

Eddie is also in the George Whitfield (2022) and James B. Hunt (2024) Athletic Hall of Fames and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Wall of Fame.

A native of Kinston, N.C., Eddie earned his master’s degree from North Carolina in 1977.  Eddie and his wife, Sally, currently reside in Wilson, N.C.