Leadership and mentorship play a vital role in the lives of many Hampden-Sydney students, often growing into core strengths that shape their future success. By engaging in various aspects of campus life and the surrounding community, the possibilities for growth are limitless. For senior Wills Huddleston, leadership and mentorship has taken many forms on and off the Hill as he continues to sharpen his skills with an eye toward his future.
Wills was first introduced to Hampden-Sydney as a high school student through the Shelton Leadership Challenge, led by the late Lieutenant Colonel Rucker Snead ’81. Eager to expand his leadership potential, Wills—an avid soccer player—quickly connected with Head Soccer Coach Tommy DiNuzzo, forging a strong relationship that would shape his college decision. Drawn in by the strength of the economics and business program, the leadership opportunities through the Wilson Center, the chance to continue playing soccer, and the close-knit brotherhood, Wills found that Hampden-Sydney offered everything he was looking for.
“If I had one piece of advice for freshmen, it would be to stay open and get involved wherever you can,” Wills says. “You never know how relationships will form or what incredible opportunities might come from them.”
Taking his own advice, Wills has become a dedicated leader and mentor on campus and in the community. At Hampden-Sydney, he plays keeper on the soccer team and serves as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, a Wilson Center Fellow, and a three-year resident advisor, spending all three years overseeing freshman—a role he embraced for the opportunity to mentor and support the young men who enter the gates. Beyond the Hill, he gives back by volunteering with the Prince Edward Farmville Youth Association (PEFYA) and coaching soccer at Prince Edward County High School—demonstrating a consistent commitment to service.
“The path to coaching high school soccer started through my advisor, Professor of Economics and Business Tony Carilli,” Wills says. “During my freshman year, I made a comment in his Introduction to Economics course (ECON 101), and he mentioned that his son—Stuart Carilli, who was the head coach at Fuqua School—was looking for an assistant coach. I was open to new opportunities, and it turned out to be a great fit. I ended up spending my freshman year coaching at Fuqua.”
Wills transitioned to Prince Edward during his sophomore year after applying for an open assistant soccer coach position. Carilli later joined him on staff as head coach following the departure of the previous coach. Although Wills began his coaching journey as an assistant coach, he brought with him a strong sense of dedication, passion and leadership. This season, he was promoted to associate head coach—a testament not only to his growth as a mentor and leader but also to the character and values he’s developed as a Hampden-Sydney man.
“I’m someone who loves to volunteer, give back, and be that valuable resource,” Wills says. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch my players grow into young adults, take responsibility for their actions, and hold one another to high standards, all of which ultimately benefits both them and the program.”
Much like the growth he’s helped foster in his soccer players, Wills says his own time on the Hill has been transformative. He points to Dean of Students Richard Pantele ’13, Associate Dean for Student Conduct & Character and Director of Greek Life Dwayne Bowyer ’92, and Associate Dean for Campus and Residential Life Jesse Schrader as key mentors who have guided him along the way. He also credits Hampden-Sydney with shaping him as a person, an athlete, and a student—helping him grow his character, morals and ethics—and notes the experience has been both positive and rewarding, something he hopes to carry forward through his future experiences and the friendships he’s made along the way.
“I’ve made many great friends at Hampden-Sydney, and one of them is Justice Campbell ’26, who now coaches alongside me at Prince Edward,” Wills said. “He has an exceptional soccer IQ, and it’s been fantastic to work with someone who brings such high character, ethics, and morals to the program. He’s someone I’ll stay close with after graduation.”
Wills has certainly felt the support of his friends and players over the years—many of whom come out to watch him play at Hampden-Sydney—a gesture that reinforces the close-knit community and strong bonds he values so deeply.
“One of the biggest takeaways from my time at Hampden-Sydney is the strength of the brotherhood and how genuinely it reveals itself,” Wills said. “It’s the real deal—and being present in those moments is something truly special that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Looking ahead, Wills is excited to continue his coaching journey and turn his passion into a lifelong career. As he nears his final season with the Prince Edward program, he’s confident it will remain in good hands. Wills has accepted an assistant coaching position at Goucher College in Baltimore, where he will pursue a master’s degree in education with a focus on athletic leadership and administration. His ultimate goal is to become a college head soccer coach and, one day, an athletic director. No matter where the path leads, he’ll carry the lessons, friendships, and values of Hampden-Sydney with him every step of the way.