Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Norbert “Norbie” Wilson, Jr

Tidewater Baseball Shrine — 2025 Inductee

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 18, 2025

1. Norbert “Norbie” Wilson, Jr Marker

Inscription.

Norbert “Norbie” Wilson, Jr. Tidewater Baseball Shrine — 2025 Inductee. Robert Bahnson Wilson Jr, AKA “Norbie,” was born and raised in Mount Olive, NC, where he grew up loving and playing all kinds of sports at Southern Wayne High School including football, baseball, basketball and golf. Given the choice to walk-on Elon College to play football or to play basketball at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, NC, he chose the later, he played his freshman year and went on to earn a B.S. Degree in Physical Education. , , After graduating in 1971, Norbie joined Virginia Beach Public Schools as an Elementary Physical Education Teacher. The next year he became the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach and Health and Physical Education Teacher at First Colonial High School. He would teach and coach for 43 years and is one of Virginia High School League most successful coaches in history. , , In baseball, Wilson accumulated a winning record of 417-105. He led his FC Baseball Teams to 14 District Titles, 7 Eastern Regional Titles and 11 State appearances including one outstanding State Championship. Coach Wilson and the 1993 Team finished the season undefeated 23-0 with a AAA State Championship Title and a ranking of 6th in the Nation. That season,he was awarded Virginia Beach Sports Club Coach of the Year, the Norfolk Sports Club Coach of the Year, and Chesapeake Sports Club Coach of the Year. , , In all he won five Beach District Coach of the Year Awards, was three-time Eastern Region Coach of the Year, Virginia High School Association Coach of the Year, NHSCA Eastern United States Coach of the Year, a finalist for National Coach of the Year in 1994, the 2004 Mid-Atlantic Major League Scouts Association Eastern United States Coach of the Year, the 2016 Bud Metheny Award. , , Norbie has been elected into several hall of fames, including the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association (VBCA) Hall of Fame, Virginia High School League Hall of Fame (2017), First Colonial High School Hall of Fame, President of the Virginia Beach Coaches Association. He's also been involved in the community as a member of the Executive and Legislature Council of VHSCA, the Director for the VHSCA All-Star Baseball Game, Chairman of the All-Star and All-State Selection Committee, and an Associate Scout for the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals. , , In addition to excellence in baseball, Wilson served as FC’s Assistant Football Coach for 24 years, Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach for 9 years and Head Basketball Coach for 3 years. Lastly, he was the FC Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach for 1976-78 winning District Championships and Coach of the Year both years. , , Coach Wilson retired from baseball at First Colonial High School in 2004 but returned to coaching from 2009 to 2011 to create a baseball program for the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, NC, where his team made the Regional Playoffs both seasons. He also spent a year as Assistant Coach at Norfolk Academy and two years helping to start a baseball program for Bryant and Stratton College in Virginia Beach. Coach Wilson is especially proud that over 100 of his players went on to play College Baseball with 10 playing professionally in both Minor and Major Leagues. , , But Wilson’s coaching career didn’t end there. In 2018, he joined the First Colonial Baseball Team as an Assistant Coach and in June of 2024, FCHS went on to win the Class 5 State Championship, 31 years after Coach Wilson guided FC to its first State Title. To be an active part of both seasons was a once-in-a-lifetime event for a legendary coach.

Robert Bahnson Wilson Jr, AKA “Norbie,” was born and raised in Mount Olive, NC, where he grew up loving and playing all kinds of sports at Southern Wayne High School including football, baseball, basketball and golf. Given the choice to walk-on Elon College to play football or to play basketball at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, NC, he chose the later, he played his freshman year and went on to earn a B.S. Degree in Physical Education.

After graduating in 1971, Norbie joined Virginia Beach Public Schools as an Elementary Physical Education Teacher. The next year he became the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach and Health and Physical Education Teacher at First Colonial High School. He would teach and coach for 43 years and is one of Virginia High School League most successful coaches in history.

In baseball, Wilson accumulated a winning record of 417-105. He led his FC Baseball Teams to 14 District Titles, 7 Eastern Regional Titles and 11 State appearances including one outstanding State Championship. Coach Wilson and the 1993 Team finished the season undefeated 23-0 with a AAA State Championship Title and a ranking of 6th in the Nation. That season,he was awarded Virginia Beach Sports Club Coach of the Year, the Norfolk Sports Club Coach of the Year, and Chesapeake Sports Club Coach of the Year.

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In all he won five Beach District Coach of the Year Awards, was three-time Eastern Region Coach of the Year, Virginia High School Association Coach of the Year, NHSCA Eastern United States Coach of the Year, a finalist for National Coach of the Year in 1994, the 2004 Mid-Atlantic Major League Scouts Association Eastern United States Coach of the Year, the 2016 Bud Metheny Award.

Norbie has been elected into several hall of fames, including the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association (VBCA) Hall of Fame, Virginia High School League Hall of Fame (2017), First Colonial High School Hall of Fame, President of the Virginia Beach Coaches Association. He's also been involved in the community as a member of the Executive and Legislature Council of VHSCA, the Director for the VHSCA All-Star Baseball Game, Chairman of the All-Star and All-State Selection Committee, and an Associate Scout for the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals.

In addition to excellence in baseball, Wilson served as FC’s Assistant Football Coach for 24 years, Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach for 9 years and Head Basketball Coach for 3 years. Lastly, he was the FC Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach for 1976-78 winning District Championships and Coach of the Year both years.

Coach Wilson retired from baseball at First Colonial High School in 2004 but returned to coaching from

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Norbert “Norbie” Wilson, Jr Marker

2009 to 2011 to create a baseball program for the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, NC, where his team made the Regional Playoffs both seasons. He also spent a year as Assistant Coach at Norfolk Academy and two years helping to start a baseball program for Bryant and Stratton College in Virginia Beach. Coach Wilson is especially proud that over 100 of his players went on to play College Baseball with 10 playing professionally in both Minor and Major Leagues.

But Wilson’s coaching career didn’t end there. In 2018, he joined the First Colonial Baseball Team as an Assistant Coach and in June of 2024, FCHS went on to win the Class 5 State Championship, 31 years after Coach Wilson guided FC to its first State Title. To be an active part of both seasons was a once-in-a-lifetime event for a legendary coach.

Erected by Norfolk Tides.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1971.

Location. 36° 50.594′ N, 76° 16.693′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It can be reached from Park Avenue 0.1 miles north of Water Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the main concourse of Harbor Park baseball stadium. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 Park Avenue, Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ron Washington (here, next to this marker); Daniel Hudson (here, next to this marker); Clyde “Ducky” Davis (a few steps from this marker); John Zontini (a few steps from this marker); Harold Joseph (Pie) Traynor (a few steps from this marker); Lewis Robert (Hack) Wilson (a few steps from this marker); Raymond Petrie (Ray) White (a few steps from this marker); Michael L. (Mike) Vail (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

Regarding Norbert “Norbie” Wilson, Jr. The Tidewater Baseball Shrine recognizes players and executives who have significantly contributed to the game of baseball in the Tidewater area of Virginia.
The shrine is located at Harbor Park, which is home to the Norfolk Tides, a AAA minor league baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles.The Norfolk Tides annually induct new members into the shrine.

Also see . . .
1. Tidewater Baseball Shrine to Induct Four in 2025 Class. (Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. ‘I love that guy:’ First Colonial grateful to get title for Norbie Wilson. (Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.