Three of Alabama’s most successful high school football coaches were inducted into the AHSAA Hall of Fame during inductions ceremonies on March 19th. Trinity Presbyterian’s Randy Ragsdale, Deshler’s John Mothershed and Loachapoka’s Jerome Tate were three of the eleven inductees at the event held in Montgomery at the Renaissance Hotel. Ragsdale and Mothershed were former board members of the ALFCA.
Ragsdale served as head football coach at Trinity Presbyterian High School in Montgomery from 1989-2017. The Wildcats compiled a 242-86 record during that span with a 45-game regular-season winning streak from 2000-05. His 2003 team won the Class 4A state championship going undefeated at 15-0. His teams reached the state playoffs in 25 of the 28 seasons and compiled a 116-23 region record.
Mothershed served as head football coach at Deshler High School from 1995-2013 and was athletic director from 1995-2007. His teams compiled a 201-53 record during that span. Prior to becoming head coach, he served on Coach Tandy Gereld’s staff for eight years. The Tigers won state titles in 1998 and 1999 under Mothershed’s direction and reached the Super 6 state finals in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2010. His teams compiled a 49-17 playoff record in 19 appearances and was 102-13 in region games. Eleven of his teams won 10 or more games.
Tate became head football coach and athletic director at Loachapoka in 1997 and remained in that capacity until he stepped down in 2017. His teams compiled a 152-98 record with four regional titles and played in the state playoffs in 17 of his 22 seasons, including 14 appearances in a row. Tate coached in the North-South All-Star Game in 1997 and 2010 and in the Alabama-Mississippi Game in 2005. He has been selected Opelika-Auburn News Coach of the Year, Montgomery Advertiser Coach of the Year, Alabama Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Alabama A&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.