Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By J.R. Tidwell / Editor

All of the vacant head football coach positions in Chilton County have now been filled after the June 25 meeting of the Chilton County Schools Board of Education.

Five members of the board were present at the meeting, which was held at Maplesville High School. Those members were Pam Price, Angie Sanderson, Chris Smith, Jacqueline Sullivan and Brian Jackson.

The head football coach positions at Jemison and Verbena were approved unanimously.

Blake Bradley will take over as head coach at Jemison High School. CCS Superintendent Jason Griffin said Bradley was an assistant coach at West Blocton and from Brewton originally.

“He seemed like the best fit for the position,” said JHS Principal Diane Calloway. “We are hoping he can bring in some fresh ideas and get the program moving.”

Josh Robinson, most recently an assistant coach at Billingsley, is taking over as head coach at Verbena.

“He has been here before,” said VHS Principal Tammy Hand. “The community loves him.”

Hand said people at Verbena were scared the school would not have a team this year due to lack of participation, but the AHSAA “really encouraged” the school to field one.

She said only around nine players came out before Robinson got the job, but now he has between 16 and 18 players at each workout.

“I think it will be very positive for our program,” Hand said. “He has already spoken to the V Club, and there were 80 people (or more) there, which is a record. I hope it stays like that. We are excited.”

Former VHS head coach Tyler Kelley is reportedly going to Billingsley as an assistant coach, while former Highland Home coach Phillip Coggins is taking the head coaching spot for BHS.

The Autauga County Board of Education had both names listed on its June 25 meeting agenda.

Brad Abbott, whose son Jackson is the quarterback at Maplesville, is taking over the head coaching spot at the school after the departure of 18-year head coach Brent Hubbert. Abbott was an assistant coach for the program.

Griffin began the meeting by officially recognizing Abbott as taking over the role and wishing him well.