Key Points
  • Bryan Moore has resigned as Hartselle's coach and returned home to lead Opelika, leaving the question of who will be the next coach for Hartselle.
  • Hartselle generally has great school and community support and is viewed as one of the better coaching jobs in north Alabama, being a 6A school.
  • The last four coaches hired by Hartselle were all from smaller schools, each with at least a 62% winning percentage at their previous stop. Hartselle's last coach promoted from within was Don Woods in 1980.
  • Ten names that make sense and fit the criteria for the next head coach at Hartselle are mentioned, including Bert Newton, Will Lang, Drew Phillips, Jake Ganus, Lee Ozmint, Nikita Stover, John Ritter, Chris Foster, Jerry Hood, and Darrell Higgins.
  • Bert Newton, Hartselle's defensive coordinator, has consistently had a top defense each season and has been with Hartselle since 2017, except for one season at Vestavia Hills in 2021. He won the inaugural Broyles Award for top high school assistant coaches in 2019.
  • Will Lang, the co-offensive coordinator/quarterback's coach at Hartselle, has shown to be a top young coach in north Alabama and has been calling plays for the Tigers' offense, averaging 41 points per game in 2021 and 2022.
  • Drew Phillips, the West Morgan coach, has a notable record and achievements, including leading West Morgan to its fourth undefeated regular season and two back-to-back 10 win seasons.
  • Jake Ganus, the Moody coach, has also achieved back-to-back 10 win seasons at Moody in 2022-23 and was the ASWA 5A coach of the year in 2023.
  • Lee Ozmint, the Arab coach, is known for consistently winning, particularly at places that traditionally don't win a lot or at a high level.
  • Nikita Stover, the Decatur Heritage coach, led the team to a 9-2 record and region championship this past year, showing a great turnaround in his brief coaching career.
  • John Ritter, the Russellville coach, has found success at every stop he's had as a head coach and has a notable overall record and achievements, including leading West Morgan to its first region championship in 15 years.
  • Chris Foster, the Priceville coach, has led the team to notable achievements, transforming the program into a model of consistency.
  • Jerry Hood, the Leeds coach, is known for his achievements, including winning the Class 6A state championship in 2014 and being named coach of the year in 2014.
  • Darrell Higgins, the Mars Hill coach, has built the team into a powerhouse, winning multiple state championships and achieving a remarkable record.