By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
Earlier this month it was reported that Prattville’s Head Football Coach, Caleb Ross, would be leaving his alma mater to be the next Director of Player Development and High School Relations at the University of Troy.
During his three seasons at Prattville, Ross accumulated a 23-11 record, while appearing in the playoffs every year.
Now, the school has begun their search for the next head coach, as they hope to replicate the success under the Ross regime.
“We’ve had quite a few candidates apply for the position already, and we’re excited about the prospect of hiring our new coach,” said PHS Athletic Director, Martin Jackson.
Jackson said the application to apply for the position will close on March 29th, and that the school will begin interviews on April 5th.
“There’s been outreach from people all over the southeast, but we also have applicants contacting us from California, Chicago and New York. We’re glad that people from all over the country are considering coming here to coach, and I think that can be attributed to the great staff that has helped to build this program over the years,” Jackson explained.
Not only is the school looking for a coach with experience and wins on the field, it’s also trying to find someone who will impact student’s lives.
“Wins and loses are important when you’re trying to hire a new head coach, but their willingness to help shape the lives of players in a positive way is intricate too,” Jackson explained. “We want someone who is not only involved on the football field but is also active in the community.”
In terms of a timeline for a hire, Jackson says that an announcement will still take several more weeks.
“After the interviews are over, we would like to make a hire by April 8th. That could change, but at the moment that’s what we’re aiming for,” Jackson said.
Currently, the team is in the process of spring training, and will then have to deal with more off-season summer workouts. Jackson says that it’s imperative that a hire be made soon, so that the new coach can become acclimated with the team.
“We’re really, really excited about the future of this program. We wished Caleb the best of success in his new endeavors, and we now push forward to be the best team that we can be,” Jackson said.
