Former Panthers coach Steve Wilks joins Charlotte 49ers in volunteer advisory role

The Charlotte 49ers have added an experienced football coach to their program.

Steve Wilks, the NFL coach who attended West Charlotte and recently coached the Carolina Panthers, is volunteering with the Charlotte 49ers’ football team as an untitled advisor, head coach Biff Poggi said at the opening practice of training camp on Friday.

Wilks’ role with Charlotte is voluntary, a team spokesperson confirmed to the Observer.

“Steve Wilks is gonna be with us,” Poggi said Friday. “Not official now. You talk about great wisdom and advisors. So we brought in some experience.”

Poggi added that Wilks’ advisory role is “untitled,” and confirmed that the longtime NFL assistant will be “around.”

The former Appalachian State defensive back and longtime NFL assistant was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers last year and guided them to their appearance in Super Bowl LVII.

Wilks will be alongside a coaching staff in University City that includes longtime NFL and college assistant Tim Brewster — who joined Charlotte following two seasons with Deion Sanders — as its associate head coach.