After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science, Finn returned to East Carolina and earned his Master of Arts in athletic administration.
Finn began his head coaching tenure at Southeast Raleigh in 2006 and has led his team to three 4A playoffs and a 2008 Conference Championship. In 2006 and 2008, Finn was named Greater Neuse River Conference Coach of the Year and the 2008 Friday Night Football RDU Area Coach of the Year. While Coach Finn has brought a winning attitude to the Bulldog program, the impact he strives to make on his player’s lives is far deeper than any title or win. “His influence on the team is obvious, not only in terms of wins, but in terms of discipline and organization. Coach Finn is changing lives both in the classroom and on the athletic field, and for that I am most proud,” said Bulldog athletic director Gary Powers.
Finn emphasizes and instills positive messages in his players and has taught them to always try and surround themselves with good people. “My players mean a lot to me. I treat them like I do my own…I want for them just like they were my own children,” said Finn. To that end, Finn established partnerships with local churches to ensure his players, some of whom come from low-income households, always receive a balanced meal on Thursdays and Fridays during the season.
Currently Finn is working to improve his team’s cumulative GPA to ensure that more of his student-athletes are able to go to college. Finn also acknowledges the importance of serving the community and hopes to involve his athletes in more of those community initiatives. “I want our team to be in the public doing productive things and I know there is more that we can do,” said Finn.
Finn lives in Clayton, North Carolina with his wife Sonya and two children.
The Carolina Panthers High School Coach of the Week program recognizes high school coaches who, through their hard work and dedication to young people, have made a difference in the lives of their players, school and community and provides high schools with financial assistance to help maintain and upgrade their football programs.