North Carolina Wesleyan College Men's Football

Filkovski was named head football coach at North Carolina Wesleyan in the spring of 2013 and enters his fourth season at the helm of the program. A Pittsburgh, Pa. native, he joined the Battling Bishops after a five-year stint at Marietta College and is the third head coach in program history. His inaugural 2013 season saw Filkovski take the reins of a relatively young N.C. Wesleyan program that had enjoyed much success in its first ten seasons, including a trio of USA South Conference titles and two NCAA berths. He quickly began his mission of restoring Wesleyans past success by fielding an offense that broke 17 program records and boasted two First Team All-Conference performers. His squad then showed marked improvement over the course of a 5-5 campaign in 2014 that featured a 4-4 mark in USA South play. He coached five players to All-Conference honors at seven positions, including the league's Offensive Player of the Year Jacques Alston, who also garnered All-American accolades. In 2015, Filkovski's Bishops tied for second in the USA South standings with a 5-2 league record, which is the highest finish for NCWC since 2010. The veteran coach had four players garner All-Conference honors at five different positions, led by Offensive Player of the Year Malik Adams and Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Minondo. In his three seasons at the helm, Filkovski's teams have racked up 14 All-Conference nods, including a trio of Players of the Year and four All-Americans. Prior to NCWC, Filkovskis coaching career at Marietta featured several highlights, including an upset of 7th-ranked Otterbein in 2009 and fielding one of the top-ranked passing attacks in the Ohio Athletic Conference in 2011. His tenure saw him guide 18 Pioneers to All-Conference nods. Before joining Marietta, Filkovski served as offensive coordinator at Heidelberg University, leading the Princes offense to a top-5 OAC ranking in nine different statistical categories. For his efforts, he was named co-Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007. Having coached at both the collegiate and pro levels, Filkovski served as the offensive coordinator for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe prior to his stint at Heidelberg. He led the Centurions to the 2nd-ranked offense in the league and a 6-4 overall record. Filkovski began his coaching career as quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator at the College of Holy Cross from 1992 to 1995. He also spent one season as the quarterbacks coach at Thomas More College and four years in the same role at the University of Cincinnati. During his time at Cincinnati, the Bearcat squad earned the 2002 Conference USA title. He started at Cincinnati as a graduate assistant in 1996 and was elevated to tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 1998. Filkovski enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at Allegheny College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In 1990, he led Allegheny to a 13-0-1 record and the NCAA Division III National Championship as the Gators starting quarterback. As a result, he was tabbed the Football Gazette Division III Offensive Player of the Year, as well as an AP Little All-American. Filkovski and his wife, Stacy, reside in Rocky Mount. They have three children: Avrey, Ariel and Jack.

Jeff Filkovski is entering his 12th season as Head Football Coach at North Carolina Wesleyan. A Pittsburgh, PA native, he is the third head coach in program history. Prior to NCWU, Filkovski’s coaching career at Marietta featured several highlights, including an upset of 7th-ranked Otterbein in 2009 and fielding one of the top-ranked passing attacks in the Ohio Athletic Conference in 2011. His tenure saw him guide 18 Pioneers to All-Conference nods. Before joining Marietta, Filkovski served as offensive coordinator at Heidelberg University, leading the Princes’ offense to a top-5 OAC ranking in nine different statistical categories. For his efforts, he was named co-Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007. Having coached at both the collegiate and pro levels, Filkovski served as the offensive coordinator for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe prior to his stint at Heidelberg. He led the Centurions to the 2nd-ranked offense in the league and a 6-4 overall record. Filkovski began his coaching career as quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator at the College of Holy Cross from 1992 to 1995. He also spent one season as the quarterbacks coach at Thomas More College and four years in the same role at the University of Cincinnati. During his time at Cincinnati, the Bearcat squad earned the 2002 Conference USA title. He started at Cincinnati as a graduate assistant in 1996 and was elevated to tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 1998. Filkovski enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at Allegheny College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In 1990, he led Allegheny to a 13-0-1 record and the NCAA Division III National Championship as the Gators’ starting quarterback. As a result, he was tabbed the Football Gazette Division III Offensive Player of the Year, as well as an AP Little All-American. During his time at Wesleyan, Filkovski has produced 55 all-conference selections including nine all-region honorees. Coaching some of the greatest athletes in program history, such as Malik Adams, who holds the NCWU all-time receiving record with 3,861 for his career and a staggering 220 yard game against Averett in 2015. Filkovski also coached the greatest running back in Wesleyan history in Jacques Alston, who ran for close to 4,000 yards in his illustrious career as a Battling Bishop. Filkovski and his wife, Stacy, reside in Rocky Mount. They have three children, Avrey, Ariel and Jack, who enjoy cheering on the Bishops.

Blake enters his second year as an assistant coach with the Battling Bishops and will help guide the defensive line. The Kissimmee, Fla. native completed his collegiate playing career at nearby Chowan University in 2014 where he tallied 35 tackles and four sacks as a senior. Blake is a 2015 Chowan graduate. He now resides in Rocky Mount.

Danny "D.J." Bunn Jr. joined the North Carolina Wesleyan football staff with a wide-ranging background in both collegiate and high school football. A native of Goldsboro, N.C., Bunn brings over a decade of experience as a coach, mentor, and leader at institutions across the Mid-Atlantic region. Bunn most recently served as Assistant Coach for Defensive Backs and Equipment Coordinator at Fayetteville State University, where he helped develop two NFL Draft prospects—Kolby Merritt and Dylan Morris. His responsibilities included defensive backfield coaching, opponent film breakdown, multi-state recruiting, and management of all team equipment operations. Prior to his time at Fayetteville State, Bunn coached running backs at Louisburg College and served as Academic Coordinator, overseeing study halls and tutoring support while contributing to offensive game planning and youth football camps. He also led Hargrave Military Academy as Head Football Coach, guiding the program through a cultural and competitive rebuild that emphasized structure, accountability, and growth on and off the field. Bunn’s coaching background also includes roles at Fork Union Military Academy, Cleveland High School, and Atkins High School, where he established a strong reputation for developing elite defensive backs and coordinating special teams units. As a player, Bunn competed at both the NCAA Division I and II levels. He began his career at the University of North Carolina, contributing to the Tar Heels’ appearances in the Music City Bowl and Independence Bowl, before transferring to Winston-Salem State University. At WSSU, he was a team captain and starting free safety, helping lead the Rams to the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship Game. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Winston-Salem State University. Bunn is the proud father of his son, Addison Champ Bunn.

Aeon Blake is in his fourth season with the Battling Bishops football program, serving as Assistant Football Coach, Defensive Line Coach, and Strength & Conditioning Coach. Blake came to Wesleyan from the College of Wooster in Ohio, where over three seasons he helped develop multiple All-NCAC defensive linemen. Notably, one of his tackles earned back-to-back first-team honors, the first to achieve that at Wooster since 2010 and 2011. Before Wooster, he spent two years at Heidelberg University in Ohio, where he coached a defensive tackle who became a consensus All-American in 2017. That season, Heidelberg ranked eighth nationally in sacks per game at 3.6. Blake also has prior experience coaching the defensive line at both North Carolina Wesleyan from 2015 to 2017 and Chowan University in 2014. As a player, Blake began his career at Mendocino College before transferring to Chowan, where he was named All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association second team in 2013. He graduated from Chowan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science in 2015, with a minor in Coaching, and later earned a Master’s Degree in Education and Leadership from Heidelberg in 2019.

North Carolina Wesleyan football is excited to welcome Toby Wilson as the program’s new offensive line coach. A former standout student-athlete and emerging coaching talent, Wilson brings a deep understanding of offensive line play, a passion for player development, and experience from one of the nation’s top collegiate football programs. A 2024 graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Industry, Wilson was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree who maintained a 3.5 GPA while balancing the rigorous demands of being a student-athlete. During his time with the Buckeyes, he contributed both on the field as a versatile offensive lineman and off the field through various coaching roles within the Ohio State football program. Wilson’s coaching experience includes serving as an offensive assistant (tight ends) and a strength intern under renowned strength coach Mickey Marotti. He also worked extensively as an assistant to the offensive line coach, where he was heavily involved in film breakdown, playbook development, scouting reports, and coaching offensive line camps. His leadership extended to running meetings, teaching installations, and coaching scout teams during the 2024 season. As a player, Wilson trained across all three interior offensive line positions (left guard, center, right guard) while also filling in at tackle and contributing on special teams. He was a nine-time recipient of the Scout Team Player of the Week and played a key leadership role in preparing Ohio State’s offensive line unit each week. “Toby brings an incredible work ethic and attention to detail to our staff,” said head coach Jeff Filkovski. “His experience at a high-level program like Ohio State, combined with his passion for mentoring young men, makes him a perfect fit for our offensive line and for what we are building here at North Carolina Wesleyan.” Wilson’s strengths in coaching, leadership, film analysis, strength and conditioning, and game preparation will play a vital role in the continued development of the Battling Bishop offensive front.

Chance Harris joined the North Carolina Wesleyan football staff in 2025 as the program’s running backs coach. A four-year letterwinner at Morehead State, Harris played in 38 career games for the Eagles from 2021 to 2024. He totaled 827 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 283 carries, while adding 171 receiving yards and two scores through the air. Harris also contributed on special teams, collecting 230 kick return yards over his career. His most productive season came in 2022, when he ranked second on the team with 404 rushing yards and added a receiving touchdown. Known for his versatility, Harris saw action as a runner, receiver, and returner throughout his career. Originally from North Tazewell, Virginia, Harris played high school football at Tazewell High School before continuing his career at the Division I FCS level. Head coach Jeff Filkovski on Harris: “Chance is a high-character guy who’s been through the grind as a collegiate running back. He understands the position from every angle—blocking, catching, returning, and reading defenses. He’s going to be a phenomenal asset to our players and program.”

Josh Corbett joined the North Carolina Wesleyan football staff in 2025 as the program’s linebackers coach. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Corbett arrives in Rocky Mount after gaining valuable experience with several high-level programs, including four years on staff at The Ohio State University. While at OSU, he served in various capacities within the football program, including student assistant roles working with both the defense and quarterback rooms. He was heavily involved in film breakdown, game planning, position-specific drills, and sideline signal-calling during games. Throughout his time with the Buckeyes, Corbett contributed to a program that made four consecutive College Football Playoff appearances (2021–2025), including two semifinal runs and one Rose Bowl victory. He was mentored by a nationally respected staff including defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and defensive line coach Larry Johnson. In addition to his time at Ohio State, Corbett held previous high school coaching roles in Ohio and interned with elite quarterback training at Black Sheep Performance. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2024 with a degree in Sport Industry and a minor in Coaching. Head coach Jeff Filkovski on Corbett: “Josh brings tremendous energy, preparation, and attention to detail. He’s been around some of the best minds in college football and has a natural ability to connect with players. I’m excited to watch him develop our linebacker room.”

J'Vonte Hudson enters his second year with North Carolina Wesleyan in a new assistant coach position with the Battling Bishop lacrosse program, where his primary responsibility will be recruiting. Hudson previously served as an assistant football coach at Wesleyan, working with the secondary unit, and brings a strong background in player development, recruiting, and leadership to his new role. Prior to joining Wesleyan, Hudson enjoyed a successful professional football career, highlighted by being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 LFA Draft (Mexico). He also played in the Indoor Football League (IFL) with the San Diego Strike Force and in the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) league with the Southwest Kansas Storm. A native of Louisiana, Hudson is a 2019 graduate of Southern University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History. His collegiate playing career included stops at McNeese State and Kilgore College, where he completed an Associate of Arts degree in 2017. While new to the lacrosse sidelines, Hudson’s proven ability to build relationships with student-athletes, identify talent, and contribute to recruiting strategy will be a major asset to the Bishops’ lacrosse program. "Coach Hudson has been a tremendous addition to our staff," stated Director of Athletics Aaron Denton. "His work ethic, energy, and ability to connect with young people have already made a significant impact. We are confident that his recruiting abilities and passion for helping student-athletes succeed will translate very well to the lacrosse program." Hudson’s emphasis on mentoring, recruiting, and player development will be pivotal as the Battling Bishops continue building a competitive and successful lacrosse program.