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EMERALD ISLE – One of North Carolina’s most successful high school coaches has passed away.

James (Jim) Elverton Brett, Jr. died peacefully on Jan. 11 at Carolina East Medical Center with his wife and daughter by his side. He was 79 years old.

Brett, a native of Ahoskie, graduated from Ahoskie High School in 1963. There he was a member of the 1961 AHS team, coached by the legendary Jack Young, that defeated previously unbeaten Morehead City High School, 33-6, to win the Class AA Eastern State Championship.

Brett also excelled in basketball and baseball while at Ahoskie High School.

Right out of high school, Brett was drafted by the New York Mets to play pro baseball but he decided to pursue his college education. He attended Chowan College and graduated from Atlantic Christian College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education with a minor in Social Studies.

Upon graduation from college, his love for athletics led him to pursue a long and storied career in education and coaching. Brett worked as a head football coach, track and field coach, and athletic director. He coached at Tarboro High School, West Brunswick High School, Northern Nash High School and West Carteret High School.

Brett spent 18 seasons at Tarboro High School, compiling a 165-53 record in the process along with winning 13 conference championships. His 1984 team squad won the state Class 3-A title, setting the standard for what became one of the most successful high school football programs in North Carolina. After their 1984 title, Tarboro has gone on to win eight more state championships, the most recent coming at the end of the 2024 season.

Brett was highly successful as a track and coach as well. He coached Tarboro to four NCHSAA Track and Field Championships, earning titles in 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1979. His Viking track and field teams won 12 conference championships and five Eastern Regional championships under his leadership.

In 1973, Brett served as the head track coach for the Southeastern U.S. in the Junior Olympics.

He is one of just seven coaches in NCHSAA history who won a state championship as the head coach at more than one school.

As the head coach at West Brunswick, Brett led the Trojans to state football titles in 1992 and 1993. In the process, West Brunswick became the first school in NCHSAA history to win back-to-back state championships at different classifications (Class 2-A and Class 3-A respectively).

In 2002, Brett led Northern Nash to the 4A eastern regional final.

He served as an assistant coach in both the East/West All-Star Game and the Shrine Bowl in 1985.

Overall, Brett had a 211-100 win-loss record as a head football coach.

After retiring from coaching, Brett was a governor appointed Board of Trustee for Carteret Community College. In addition, he was recognized as one of the all-time greats in North Carolina prep coaching history. He was inducted into four different Halls of Fame: The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, North Carolina Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, The George Whitfield Baseball Hall of Fame, and the inaugural Tarboro High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Terri Pippin Brett; daughter, Betsy Brett Williams (Brandon); grandchildren, Brett Pennington and Gracie Williams; and his sister, Betty Brett Harrelle, along with beloved nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Rebecca Brett, and a daughter, Rene’ Brett Pennington.

Visitation will be at the Tarboro High School gymnasium from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. A Celebration of Life will begin at 1 p.m. The interment will follow at Ahoskie Cemetery, 1500 1st Street West (beside Hertford County High School.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Broad Street Clinic, 534 N 35th Street K, Morehead City, NC 28557 or to the Carteret County Humane Society, 853 Hibbs Road, Newport, NC 28570.