Marvin “Red” Hoffman

Year Inducted: 2014

Marvin “Red” Hoffman was born in Statesville, North Carolina, in 1923. He graduated from Statesville High School in 1941. Hoffman graduated from Appalachian State University in 1948 and received his Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt in 1953.

In 1942 Hoffman joined the U.S. Army. He was captured and held in multiple German prison camps for 10 months until his escape in April 1945. He fought in the Battle of Anzio in Italy. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal of Honor for helping to pull his two wounded sergeants to safety.

In 1948, he began his high school coaching career at Wilkesboro High School. Hoffman became the head coach of Wilkes Central High School in 1952. His 28 year coaching career record was 174-98-14. Coach had approximately 100 players receive full or partial athletic scholarships.

In 1951, Hoffman was the winning head coach for the East-West High School game. He led his football teams to the state playoffs in 1951, 1954, 1963, 1965, and 1972. In 1962, Wilkes Central High School won the Western North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Playoffs. Hoffman was named the head coach for the North Squad in the Lions Bowl in 1964 and 1967. He was the head coach for the N.C. Shrine Bowl in 1967. Hoffman retired from coaching in 1976 and served as the Wilkes County Athletic Director for seven years. In 1993, the Field House at Wilkes Central High School was dedicated in honor of Coach Hoffman. Hoffman received honorary membership to the North Carolina Coaches Association (only the fourth person to receive this honor) in 1995. In 1996, he was inducted into the North Carolina High School Athletic Director’s Association Hall of Fame and inducted into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1998.

In 2004, Hoffman was named the North Wilkesboro’s Rotary Club Citizen of the Year.

In 2013, Hoffman received the national honor from TheCorrigan/Faircloth Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame from ACC Commissioner John Swofford for dedicated service to the game of football and the people of Wilkes as a coach, teacher and mentor.

In 2014, the NCHSAA recognized Hoffman posthumously as one of the “NCHSAA 100 Coaches To Remember.” Coach Hoffman was recognized as the face of Wilkes County athletics statewide. He helped not only students but all residents develop a sense of pride and accomplishment through his tireless efforts and dedication to high school sports. Many young people remember him as their mentor.

Coach Marvin “Red” Hoffman was a member of the Wilkesboro United Methodist Church from 1950-2013. He was a member of the North Wilkesboro Elks Club, Oakwoods Country Club, ASU Yosef Club, ASU Former Athletics and North Carolina Coaches Association.