Todd Wilkerson retires as Heritage Hills High School football coach
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LINCOLN CITY, Ind. — Todd Wilkerson, one of the more successful football coaches in the Pocket Athletic Conference in recent years, is hanging up his whistle.
The Heritage Hills coach announced his retirement on Monday, Dec. 8, following a strong 14-year run at his alma mater. Wilkerson finished with a 122-46 record and three trips to the IHSAA state finals, including a victory in the Class 3A title game in 2024.
He is second all-time in career victories with the Patriots, only trailing Hall of Famer Bob Clayton.
“I want to start by thanking the individuals who were instrumental in giving me an opportunity to be the head football coach at Heritage Hills,” Wilkerson posted in a statement. “Thank you to former Heritage Hills football coach, and Indiana Hall of Fame football coach, Bob Clayton, former NSCSC superintendent Dan Scherry, former Heritage Hills AD Jay Burch, former Heritage Hills principal Nick Alcorn and longtime HH assistant football coaches Stan Jochim and Chris Sigler. This core group trusted me, supported me and worked alongside me to keep Patriot football at top tier football program in the state of Indiana.”
Wilkerson, 55, was a three-sport athlete at Heritage Hills before graduating in 1988. He attended the University of Evansville before joining the United States Navy. He served from 1992-98 aboard the U.S.S John C. Stennis CVN-74 (Aircraft Carrier) as a nuclear power electrician. Upon his return, Wilkerson immediately joined the Heritage Hills football program coaching staff.
He rose the ranks as a middle school coach, freshman coach and varsity assistant (the only time away was one year teaching at Castle Junior High in 2003-04). Wilkerson was chosen to succeed Clayton in 2012. After initial struggles, the program started to flourish under his watch.
Heritage Hills won five sectionals, five regionals and three semi-state championships since 2014. The Patriots lost to Bishop Chatard twice (2019, 2023) in the state championship before defeating Fort Wayne Luers, 38-15, in 2024. The program only had two losing seasons under watch. Not even Clayton coached in back-to-back state championship games.
“I want to thank my wife Candy,” Wilkerson said. “During this journey, her love and support never wavered. It is not easy to be a coach’s wife. For 26 years, she attended games, cheered for the Patriots and found success in her own career, and supported our children while I was at football related events. It is appropriate to say she is also retiring today. I am grateful to God for putting her in my life, and I’m extremely excited for the future we have together.”
Thank you Patriot Family. I love you all!@HHQBCLUBpic.twitter.com/Sx9xm0el2w
— Todd Wilkerson (@coach_wilk12) December 8, 2025
Heritage Hills had one of its stronger runs the past three years. The Patriots went 39-5 with back-to-back state finals appearances, followed by a Class 4A regional championship (the first in program history in that class). Heritage Hills went 12-2 this fall before losing to Roncalli in the semi-state.
The lineup will graduate multiple starters, including four All-State selections (Jett Goldsberry, Tyler Ruxer, Gabe Jackson, Carter Payne) and six All-PAC selections. Among those back next year including All-PAC junior running back/defensive back Tyce Winchell (529 rushing yards, 7 TDs), junior wide receiver Micah Toler (460 receiving yards) and junior linebacker Aiden Fischer (85 total tackles).
Wilkerson thanked numerous coaches, administrators, colleagues and above all the players from the past 14 years. Among his final thoughts to them included: “We had an awesome time together.”
“As I look back on my career at Heritage Hills,” Wilkerson said. “My heart is full of gratitude for this opportunity, the ability and the blessings I was given. Playing high school football at Heritage Hills gave me tools to be successful in life. The experience helped me understand teamwork, discipline, focus, preparation, hard work. It taught me how to develop a sense of toughness and grit to overcome times of failure.”
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Todd Wilkerson retires as Heritage Hills High School football coach
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