Josh Wilcox, a member of Oregon's 1995 Rose Bowl team, played in two seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.

Football is in Josh Wilcox's DNA.

His father, Dave, and uncle, John, played at Oregon and in the NFL. His brother, Justin, played at Oregon and has coached in college for 25 years, the last nine seasons as the head coach at Cal.

Josh had a standout career as a tight end, playing on Oregon's 1995 Rose Bowl team and in the NFL. But up until last year – when he assisted at Junction City, has alma mater – he wasn't involved in football in an official capacity for years.

“Usually my falls have been following my brother around. I was the crazy brother that got the sideline pass,” he said. “It was finally time for me to step in and be the other Wilcox that coached.”

After a successful season as the offensive coordinator for a Junction City team that made the 4A quarterfinals, Wilcox has taken the head coaching job at neighboring Harrisburg. He replaces Pete Machacek, who led the Eagles to a 7-3 record and 2A playoff appearance last season.

Wilcox believes it's a natural fit for him.

“The experience at Junction City last year was pretty profound, so that started a trigger, like, 'Hmm, man, this might be fun,'” he said. “It wasn't like I was looking to go somewhere, or I had to be a head coach.

“The opportunity to build something, with the district and the athletic department behind you, it was too good to pass up. I'm just so thankful for the opportunity. They're taking a risk, in a way.”

Wilcox feels a connection with the athletes in the area. Three years ago, he moved from central Oregon back to the family farm, located on the Willamette River about halfway between Junction City and Harrisburg, after the passing of his father, an NFL Hall of Famer.

He remembers, as a teen, driving a truck to block a bridge so his father could drive a combine across it.

“Growing up in Junction City, I can totally relate to all the kids at Harrisburg,” he said. “It's just what I grew up with. We're going to stagger weight-room stuff because we've got kids that have to drive combines in the summer. These are kids just like me when I was 16, 17, 18.”

Wilcox, who does not have children, has discovered that coaching football allows him to develop unique relationships.

“These are my kids, in a way,” he said. “The feeling I had working with the kids at Junction City, that really made an impact on me.”

Wilcox played for the New Orleans Saints in 1998 and 1999 and had stints in the XFL, Arena Football League and NFL Europe. He spent four years as a professional wrestler and has worked in the business world for the past 25 years.

Aside from instructing at an occasional football camp, he had eschewed coaching. He said he was approached about coaching “for a long time,” including last year when Junction City was searching for a head coach.

“I didn't desire really to do anything as a head coach,” he said.

In the weeks leading up to last season, though, first-year Junction City coach Tye Rauschert reached out to Wilcox to gauge his interest in assisting. He accepted, and it evolved into him taking over the offense.

“Part of it was to help the place where I was from, and give back,” Wilcox said. “I wanted to coach them up. For myself, it was just something I needed to do. When I got out there, I really enjoyed it.

“I built a great relationship with a bunch of kids. We had a great, successful run. It was a pretty awesome experience. I wouldn't be in this opportunity if it wasn't for the kids at Junction City.”

Wilcox was gratified that Junction City tight end Jackson Roderick made first-team all-state, an honor that Wilcox never received.

“For me to get a guy and coach him up to make first team, that was a check-the-box thing for me,” he said.

Harrisburg went 0-9 in 2024 in its first season under Machacek, then had success last season after dropping down to the 2A nine-man level. The Eagles, with all but six players eligible to return, are ticketed to move back to 3A next season.

Despite their proximity, Harrisburg and Junction City aren't rivals because they are separated in classification. But Wilcox would let to schedule the Tigers at some point.

“I think it would be awesome for the community, the 'Farmers Classic,' or whatever you want to call it,” he said. “We'll play them. It's like Apollo Creed and Rocky, we'll go anywhere, any time.”