From walk-on to tight ends coach: Gavin Locklear continues to climb coaching ladder at NC State

Gavin Locklear was enjoying a December day on the golf course with a group of friends when his phone rang. After he took the call from Dave Doeren, Locklear still rode on the golf cart for the round, but his mind was elsewhere. He believed he only swung his clubs five times for the entire 18-hole round.

Why? Locklear had earned a promotion. Doeren was named him the Wolfpack’s tight ends coach on Dec. 30, another step in the ladder for the former NC State walk-on wide receiver. 

Now, Locklear is the youngest position coach on the Pack’s staff — and he doesn’t take that for granted. 

“It’s such a blessing,” Locklear said Wednesday. “I’ve come a long way from walking-on here at NC State. To me, it’s all about hard work. It means the world to me.”

Locklear began his tenure in Raleigh by earning a scholarship ahead of the 2016 season. He logged 12 receptions for 107 yards during the three seasons he saw the field before he entered the coaching profession. And he did so at the bottom of the hierarchy with the Pack as an unpaid volunteer assistant before eventually serving as a graduate assistant and then a quality control coach. 

His path is one of persistence and climbing through the same program, which isn’t often seen in the college athletics landscape in its current form. But for Locklear, an Apex native, being able to continue working at NC State is an ambition fulfilled. 

“It’s unbelievable,” Locklear said. “It’s something that you dream of. A lot of coaches would love to coach at their alma mater, and I have the ability to do that. I don’t take that lightly and I look forward to maximizing this to the full potential.”

Locklear is the newest former Wolfpack player to earn a full-time coaching role on Doeren’s current staff. The coach, who is entering his 13th season in Raleigh, seems to take pride in having a crop of former players in the building, teaching the next generation of NC State players. 

“Gavin has been a positive addition to our program since the first day he walked on and has done a great job on our staff,” Doeren said. “I love being able to give former players the opportunity to work at their alma mater and am looking forward to watching his career continue with the Wolfpack.”

For the Pack’s newest position coach, his past as a former player helps in relating to those currently on the roster, he believed. 

“I tell all these guys, I’ve been in your shoes,” Locklear said. “I’ve done all the things you’re going through. I’ve been a part of those workouts, those fall camps, those spring practices. Just being able to relate to those guys on that level, because at the end of the day, this game is not easy.”

While Locklear is just six years removed from graduating from NC State, his consistent presence in the Murphy Center as a staff member prepared him for this moment. He’s not green in the coaching world, even if this is considered his first full-time on-field coaching role. 

NC State offensive coordinator Kurt Roper stressed that as he talked about Locklear, who he has watched rise through the ranks since he joined the staff in 2019.

“He’s passionate about NC State, he’s passionate about coaching football,” Roper said. “He brings a lot of energy to the football field. … He’s got a lot of experience, maybe not as a full-time coach, but he’s been coaching a lot of football for a long time. We’re fortunate to have him on the staff. We’re fortunate to get his energy and passion about NC State.”

And since Locklear has spent the past half decade in the building, he has been able to watch and learn from several Wolfpack assistants throughout the years. He thought that was key in helping mold him into who he is today. 

“I’ve learned so much. I’ve been around here for a long time,” Locklear said. “I’ve tried to take a little bit of everything from everybody that I’ve come in contact with. I think, at the end of the day, your coaching philosophy is what it is. But it’s never something that you design on your own.”

While Locklear reflected on his promotion to tight ends coach, where he’ll get to lead a room paced by standout Justin Joly, he continued to talk about what this means to him personally. He summed it up in a simple way — it’s what he’s always wanted. 

“It’s a dream come true,” Locklear said. “I’m extremely appreciative of Coach [Doeren] for giving me this opportunity.”