News

We now have 836 teams &  
190,063 games on AHSFHS.org.



Search Site

AHSFHS Article Series


   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.





2023 Football Coaching Changes


     Share on Facebook         
      


       
New Hires: Twelve
Best Hire: Ed Rigby, Luverne
Hardest to Replace: Stacy Luker, Clarke County
Best Job: Luverne
Toughest Job: Barbour County
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 GriffinGrady Griffin
Barbour County (0-10)Daniel PowellDerrick Levett
Bayside Academy (6-5)Phil LazenbyDerrick Levett
Clarke County (7-6)Stacy LukerRob Carter
Gaston (9-4)Chad EadsAlan Beckett
Gaston (3-7)Matt HarrisAlan Beckett
Geneva County (3-7)Josh ThompsonJosh Thompson
Greene County (4-6)KaRon ColemanCory Cockrell
Highland Home (12-2)Will PounceyWill Pouncey
Hillcrest Evergreen (4-6)Harry CrumWill Pouncey
Holly Pond (0-10)Chris MossColeman Mason
Holly Pond (0-10)Chris MossColeman Mason
Holt (0-10)Dustin HycheColeman Mason
J.A.G. (3-7)Rory BellTate Leonard
Lanett (5-6)Clifford StoryChip Seagle
Lanett (5-6)Clifford StoryChip Seagle
Lexington (9-3)Jason LardBlake Killen
Luverne (6-5)Jason RowellEd Rigby
Luverne (6-5)Jason RowellEd Rigby
North Sand Mountain (3-8)Kevin BoswellKeith Kirby
Rehobeth (4-6)Pate HarrisonMatt Johnson
Section (1-9)Chris HammonRiley Edwards
Sheffield (5-5)Brian DickersonBrian Dickerson
Southern Academy (5-6)Chris HillikerKevin Byrd
Sulligent (5-5)Daniel MerchantBrian Gunnels
Tharptown (2-8)Jacob HamiltonJohn Johnson.
Waterloo (4-5)Jeremiah StricklinJohnny Carpenter
Wilcox Academy (4-7)Woodie BeckJosh Cox
Winston County (7-5)Mark MitchellCaleb Simmons
Winston County (7-5)Mark MitchellCaleb Simmons
Woodland (1-9)Joel SchrenkJoel Schrenk
Woodlawn (6-4)Gentrell EatmanJoel 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.

Paul Benefield Fyffe 337 55
Josh Wright Tuscaloosa Academy 148 45
Ernie Willingham Collinsville 142 94
Ronn Lee St. Lukes 132 169
Steven Kilcrease Ariton 102 40
Adam Fossett B.B. Comer 94 76
Jimmy Nave Whitesburg Christian 88 82
Ed Rigby Luverne 88 353



 
 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.

Paul Benefield Fyffe 63 23
Josh Wright Tuscaloosa Academy 29 10
Steven Kilcrease Ariton 14 9
Ed Rigby Luverne 14 9
Adam Fossett B.B. Comer 11 10
Ernie Willingham Collinsville 11 17
Ronn Lee St. Luke's 10 13
Rob Carter Clarke County 9 5
Matt Johnson Reeltown 7 6
Tate Leonard Isabella 7 7
   * only in-state wins counted



 
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.

27 - Paul Benefield, Fyffe
15 - Ernie Willingham, Collinsville
14 - Wesley Sims, J.U. Blacksher
12 - John Limbaugh, Fayetteville
11 - Daryl Davis, Thorsby
10 - Josh Cox, Wicksburg
9 - Jonathan Nix, Pleasant Valley
9 - Ronn Lee, St. Lukes
8 - Steven Kilcrease, Ariton
8 - Denton Bowling, Hatton
8 - Tate Leonard, Isabella
8 - Keith Kirby, North Sand Mountain
8 - Stephen Bailey, Ranburne
8 - Matt Johnson, Reeltown
7 - KaRon Coleman, Greene County
7 - Robert Bradford, Lamar County
6 - Adam Fossett, B.B. Comer
6 - Luke Pruitt, Pisgah
6 - Jason Wambles, Samson
6 - Kevin Byrd, Southeastern
6 - Oscar Bonds, Tanner
6 - Lucas Weatherford, Vincent
 



 
 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.

12 Aliceville  
12 Barbour County  
11 Sulligent  
10 Central Coosa  
10 Highland Home  
10 Tuscaloosa Academy  
9 Ariton  
9 Francis Marion  
9 Holly Pond  
9 Samson  
8 B.B. Comer  
8 Cold Springs  
8 Geneva County  
8 Horseshoe Bend  
8 Locust Fork  





David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org





Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The Tuscaloosa Black Bears were considered one of the best programs in the nation from 1925-1931. Their record over that span was an amazing 61-0-3.