Two of the traditional names of high school football in Alabama have secured their new head coaches.
Caleb Ross, a graduate of Prattville High School, is returning to his alma mater. Ross was an assistant for present UAB Coach Bill Clark and Phenix City coach Jamey Dubose for five years during the heydays of Prattville football. He replaces Chad Anderson, who resigned after six seasons.
“At one time, it was one of the best programs in the Southeast, and it can be again,” Ross said on Al.com. “The reality is there is a lot of work to be done. They’ve had a rough go of it the last few years. We’ve got to go in and repair some relationships. The culture has turned a little negative. We’ve got to turn that thing around and make it positive again.”
The Elba Tigers have selected Dale County head coach Pate Harrison as their new head coach. A native of New Brockton, Harrison built the Warriors into a Wiregrass power, making it to the state championship game in 2014. He fielded five playoff teams at Dale County. Harrison replaces Ed Rigby, who resigned to become the new head coach at Eufaula.
“Winning is a culture and we had to establish that culture at Dale County and get it set up,” Harrison said in the Dothan Eagle, referring to a Warrior program that had three straight 1-9 seasons before his arrival and eight losing records in nine years.
“At Elba, the community expects to win, the kids expect to win, the administration expects to win and I expect it to win. Here you don’t have to establish the culture, you just build on it.”