The board of directors of the Alabama Football Coaches Association met on Thursday, July 19th at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery for its annual summer meeting. Executive Director Jack Wood welcomed the board and its new members to the meeting-Steve Smith of Piedmont representing District 6, Erik Speakman of Opelika from District 4, and Tim Bethea of Trinity representing District 3. New board member Tony Buckhalter of Russellville from District 7 could not attend.
Coach Wood gave a financial and sponsor update. He told the board that he was working with a couple of possible sponsors and expected to have at least one new sponsor in the next month. Coach Wood confirmed that the ALFCA was in the state budget again and that there were specific rules concerning how the money could be spent.
Coach Wood said that the membership packets would be going out in August and asked board members to contact as many schools as possible in their districts.
He reminded the board that the next meeting would be at Super 7 in Auburn. The coaches social would be Thursday night and the board meeting Friday night. Coach Wood also encouraged board members to attend the AFCA Convention in January in San Antonio. The association will pay board members a stipend to help with the expenses of the convention.
The dates of the 2019 ALFCA Convention will be January 24-26th next year. The association will give away 18 helmet grants through Schutt as well as $26,000 of scholarships to students. He reminded the board of the members who will work the Coach of the Year awards in each classification as well the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Coach Wood told board members if they had any suggestions for speakers for next year’s convention to please let him know soon.
Former ALFCA president Jamie Riggs gave the board an update on the ALFCA website and Twitter account. ALFCA president Terry Curtis talked to the board about the latest issues concerning high school football in the state. He gave his assessment of the litigation involving the AHSAA and St. Paul’s School. After much discussion, the board voted unanimously to support the AHSAA position in the suit.
AHSAA Assistant Director Alvin Briggs came to the meeting to update the board on the litigation as well as instant replay and other AHSAA issues.
There being no other business, the board adjourned.