Wellesley High School has named Jim Everhart as its new head football coach, succeeding Jesse Davis, who announced at the start of the year that he’d be stepping down after 14 years leading the Raiders.

Everhart has been a member of the WHS football coaching staff for the past 19 years—he has coached on both the offensive and defensive sides, and served as offensive coordinator for the Raiders from 2018-2023. Everhart was a longtime baseball assistant coach at WHS starting in the spring of 2007, then joined the indoor track coaching staff and more recently the outdoor track staff.

“We had many candidates apply,” says John Brown, Wellesley Public Schools athletic director. “We went through a full interview process and Jim came through that process as the best candidate to lead our football program.”

Everhart says he is most excited about continuing to work with the student-athletes in Wellesley’s program, and alongside the staff. “I’m fortunate to have all the coaches back from last season to help support the student-athletes and the program,” he says.

During his time with the Wellesley football program, Everhart has coached at every level from the 9th grade team to the junior varsity and varsity programs. He’s had plenty of leadership opportunities, but has never been a head coach.

“Having that background allows me to understand how to coach and teach first-year football players to four-year starters,” says Everhart, who played high school football himself in Pennsylvania and later played baseball in college. “I have been fortunate to coach other sports at Wellesley High School including baseball and track and field. I’ve learned a great deal about how to coach from many great coaches that have helped shape my coaching style. I’m going to be myself in this role while at the same time bring valuable experience that I’ve learned from other sports and other great coaches.”

Among Everhart’s challenges, he says, will be “living up to the standard that Wellesley football alumni expect and continue the great tradition of Wellesley High School football that was created before me from coaches like Coach Andy Levin, Coach Bill Tracey, and Coach Jesse Davis…”

Another challenge is playing in a tough conference, the Bay State League, says Everhart, whose day job is as a wellness teacher at Needham’s Eliot Elementary School.

“I’m excited to continue the coaching journey,” Everhart says. ” look forward to getting to work with the talented athletes in Wellesley, the hard working and enthusiastic families and community involved with the football program, and the coaching staff at Wellesley.”

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