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The best of the best in Alabama High
School Football over the past 100 seasons.
2023 Football Coaching Changes
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New Hires: Twelve Best Hire: Ed Rigby, Luverne Hardest to Replace: Stacy Luker, Clarke County Best Job: Luverne Toughest Job: Barbour County |
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Most Interesting:
The most interesting coaching changes were the coaches that exited 2A during
the off season. Stacey Luker moved to Mississippi. Clifford Story leaving
Lanett was also a surprise but The Panthers should be in good hands for the
future. Ed Rigby returning to the wiregrass following one year at Pike Road
will also be interesting to watch in the future. He found great success at
nearby Elba winning a state championship in 2015. | |||||||
| 2023 Coaching Changes | |||||
| Class 2A saw the second fewest coaching changes percentage wise as only twelve schools will have new leadership as the 2023 football season begins. Only five of the new hires have no head coaching experience. | |||||
| Team | 2022 Season | 2023 Season | |||
| Aliceville (11-2) | Grady Griffin | Grady Griffin | |||
| Barbour County (6-5) | Jermaine Watson | Derrick Levett | |||
| Barbour County (0-10) | Daniel Powell | Derrick Levett | |||
| Bayshore Christian (0-10) | Daniel Powell | Derrick Levett | |||
| Bayside Academy (6-5) | Phil Lazenby | Derrick Levett | |||
| Clarke County (7-6) | Stacy Luker | Rob Carter | |||
| G.W. Long (8-4) | David Watts | David Watts | |||
| Gaston (9-4) | Chad Eads | Alan Beckett | |||
| Gaston (3-7) | Matt Harris | Alan Beckett | |||
| Geneva County (3-7) | Josh Thompson | Josh Thompson | |||
| Greene County (4-6) | KaRon Coleman | Cory Cockrell | |||
| Highland Home (12-2) | Will Pouncey | Will Pouncey | |||
| Highland Home (12-2) | Will Pouncey | Will Pouncey | |||
| Hillcrest Evergreen (4-6) | Harry Crum | Will Pouncey | |||
| Holly Pond (0-10) | Chris Moss | Coleman Mason | |||
| Holly Pond (0-10) | Chris Moss | Coleman Mason | |||
| Holt (0-10) | Dustin Hyche | Coleman Mason | |||
| Ider (2-8) | Chad Grant | Chad Grant | |||
| J.A.G. (8-3) | Tate Leonard | Tate Leonard | |||
| J.A.G. (3-7) | Rory Bell | Tate Leonard | |||
| Lanett (5-6) | Clifford Story | Chip Seagle | |||
| Lanett (5-6) | Clifford Story | Chip Seagle | |||
| Lexington (13-1) | Jason Massey | Blake Killen | |||
| Lexington (9-3) | Jason Lard | Blake Killen | |||
| Lowndes Academy (7-4) | Billy Adams | Billy Adams | |||
| Luverne (6-5) | Jason Rowell | Ed Rigby | |||
| Luverne (6-5) | Jason Rowell | Ed Rigby | |||
| Lynn (6-5) | Jason Rowell | Ed Rigby | |||
| North Sand Mountain (4-7) | Keith Kirby | Keith Kirby | |||
| Red Bay (6-5) | Heath Childers | Heath Childers | |||
| Red Bay (6-5) | Heath Childers | Heath Childers | |||
| Rehobeth (4-6) | Pate Harrison | Matt Johnson | |||
| Sand Rock (4-6) | Alan Heath | Alan Heath | |||
| Sand Rock (4-6) | Alan Heath | Alan Heath | |||
| Section (1-9) | Chris Hammon | Riley Edwards | |||
| Sheffield (5-5) | Brian Dickerson | Brian Dickerson | |||
| Sheffield (5-5) | Brian Dickerson | Brian Dickerson | |||
| Southern Academy (10-2) | Kevin Byrd | Kevin Byrd | |||
| Southern Academy (5-6) | Chris Hilliker | Kevin Byrd | |||
| Sulligent (5-5) | Daniel Merchant | Brian Gunnels | |||
| Tharptown (2-8) | Jacob Hamilton | John Johnson. | |||
| Washington County (1-9) | Johnny Carpenter | Johnny Carpenter | |||
| Waterloo (4-5) | Jeremiah Stricklin | Johnny Carpenter | |||
| Wilcox Academy (4-7) | Woodie Beck | Josh Cox | |||
| Winston County (7-5) | Mark Mitchell | Caleb Simmons | |||
| Winston County (7-5) | Mark Mitchell | Caleb Simmons | |||
| Woodland (1-9) | Joel Schrenk | Joel Schrenk | |||
| Woodlawn (6-4) | Gentrell Eatman | Joel Schrenk | |||
| Most Victories | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach Paul Benefield leads the list of 2A coaches with 337 victories in thirty-two seasons. His winning percentage is among the best of all time in any classification. Many articles have been written about him and I think there will more ahead for this coach. Look for Fyffe to be back in the hunt for another championship in 2023. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Most Playoff Victories | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It is 2A so the answer to most every question is Fyffe or Coach Benefield. He ranks fourth on our all-time list of the most successful coaches in playoff victories. Only Terry Curtis, Danny Horn and Jamie Riggs are ahead of his 63 playoff wins. Newcomer to the AHSAA Josh Wright has his program at Tuscaloosa Academy very competitive after moving from the AISA last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Longest Tenure at Current School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In twenty six seasons at Fyffe, Coach Benefield has
led his teams to a post season appearance in all but one season. That
includes the last twenty-two in a row. Only two coaches, Jamie Riggs and
Buddy Anderson, have won more
games at a school than the 292 victories for Coach Benefield at Fyffe. His
next win will tie him with Coach Riggs. The average tenure of all the 2A coaches is 4.9 years. That is the longest of any classification. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coaching Turnover 2000-2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The lack of success in most football programs often
leads to a change in the head coach.
These schools have had the most head coaching changes over the past
24 years.
Aliceville has to be the surprise in 2A. The Yellow Jackets have had only four losing seasons during this time but have made a dozen coaching changes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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David Parker
AHSFHS.org
dparker@ahsfhs.org
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.
Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.
