The 17th annual ALFCA Convention saw great speakers at the clinic, record numbers in attendance and a successful banquet honoring the best coaching performances of the 2021 high school football season in Alabama.
Over 1000 coaches, speakers, vendors and guests were a part of the 3 day event at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery.
The clinic started with the ALFCA Board of Directors meeting on Thursday morning. Executive director Jack Wood and convention director Jennifer Byrd discussed the organization of the entire clinic and reminded board members of their roles in the three day event. The board discussed the concern among the coaching membership of the part played by outside handlers with high school players and the trend toward colleges using those individuals in the recruiting process.
Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops of Kentucky opened the clinic Thursday evening speaking on off season player evaluations. Coach Mike Leach of Mississippi State followed with a video presentation on how the Bulldogs throw their vertical game package. Alabama's Nick Saban and Charles Kelley finished up the Thursday agenda. The annual ALFCA Social finished the Thursday night slate and was well attended by both high school and college coaches.
Friday's slate started with Coach Kevin Creasey of Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee talking about getting the ball to your playmakers. Next, Auburn's Head Coach Bryan Harsin spoke about developing the culture of football at Auburn, and he was followed by his defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding who had a wonderful presentation on tackling. New Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry finished the morning agenda.
After lunch Friday afternoon the high school coaches from the state took over. Jeff Kelly of Saraland, Les Sanders, head coach at Geneva, Curtis Coleman defensive line coach at Leeds and Hudl representatives Tyler and Evan presented their talks. The next slate of coaches had David McKinney of Winfield, Aryvia Holmes of McAdoryand Shawn DeFoor, DC at Thompson as well as Richard Koehler of Optimized Mental Performance giving a wide variety of presentations to packed rooms.
From breakfast to the end of the clinic, the common areas of the hotel were full of coaches visiting and drawing up plays and defensive schemes.
The ALFCA membership came together next to listen to AHSAA football officials rep David Bell talk about possible rules changes that are being considered by the NFHS. The membership then divided up into districts for elections and discussions. ALFCA board member Ben Blackmon has taken the job at Enterprise and is leaving Spanish Fort and District 1. Baldwin County's head coach Scott Rials was elected to replace Coach Blackmon. Coach Toby Greene of Northside Methodist in Dothan was elected as the District 2 representative. Coaches Erik Speakman of Opelika, Steve Smith of Piedmont and Bob Godsey of Madison Academy were re-elected to their positions in Districts, 4, 6 and 8. After the elections, the annual ALFCA door prize drawings were held.
On Saturday, the Coach of the Year Banquet was held at the Embassy Suites at lunch. The association gave out 24 scholarships this year as well as presenting rings (sponsored by Balfour) and plaques to the winners of the Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year awards. Gerald Gann, Russell Jacoway and Steve Rivers were honored with video presentations as Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
Thanks to all of those who had a part in making the 17th ALFCA Convention a complete success.