By Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
Veteran coach Bobby Carr was introduced as the Head Football Coach at Prattville High School during a press conference at the school’s lunchroom on Monday afternoon. Carr will be the 33rd Head Football Coach in school history.
Principal Daniel Farris gave opening remarks prior to AD Blake Boren speaking and introducing Coach Carr. Principal Farris said the coaching search’s primary goal was, “a championship caliber coach, someone with a proven track record, a deep commitment to excellence, and a passion for developing young athletes.”
During his remarks, AD Boren stated that he believes “Prattville, is the home of champions. There is no question that Prattville is one of the premiere athletic schools in this state. So, when you set out to find a head football coach, I think you begin, and really end, with that in mind. Who is best positioned to take us back to where we believe this program is, where our community believes this program is, where our stakeholders believe this program is, and I think we nailed that. And I think we got it right. We are excited to welcome Coach Bobby Carr as our next head football coach, the 33rd head football coach in the history of Prattville High School.”
Boren read a list of statistics Carr has accumulated over the course of his 27-year career which included the comment that Carr has “more rings than fingers at this point. He has been inducted in the National Hall of Fame at the private school level…260 some odd wins. An incredible career already, and I do think…that we will build on that and add to that legacy. Prattville is a special place and Coach Carr is a special coach.”
After AD Boren introduced Coach Carr, he spoke for approximately five minutes. “Thank you. It’s an honor to be standing here in front of you. It’s an incredible honor. I know what the expectations are, and here’s the thing I’ve always said. Everybody should have expectations. But what’s the standard? Are we going to settle to be average? This is Prattville. Why are we celebrating to be average? It’s time to go to work. I’m ready to get this tie off and go to work.”
Carr stated that he considered the Prattville job as the premiere job in the state ever since his father took him to the Lions’ first ever state championship game in 1984. Twenty years later, he remembered how Coach Clark developed the Prattville program into a dynasty. “So, here we are, 20 more years, and I assure you we’re going to get that thing back.”
Carr then spoke of a conversation he had with Anthony Rogers, the running back at Carver where he coached in 2024. Rogers, who recently signed with Ohio State, asked Coach Carr why he was harder on him than everybody else. Carr said, “It’s because I see greatness in you. I’m not going to let you be average. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror and know that I allowed you to be average. That’s who I am as a coach. I’m going to demand their best every day.”
Carr’s father, who passed away a few years ago, was a quarterback for Prattville in the 60s, so he has a long history in the area. The coach has had some highs and lows throughout his career, and did not shy away from speaking about those times. “Sometimes God has to put us in the fire. I’ve been through a lot in my life. When you stumble and fall in life, the only thing to do is get back up…and sometimes God has to bring us to our knees. I’ve been through that in my life. When He builds you up the right way, my goodness, I’ve got a fire like no other.”
Carr also spoke about some of the responsibilities of high school coaches, noting how much time they will spend with the students. “When I stand before God one day, He’s not going to say congratulations on winning X amount of championships, He’s going to say, ‘What did you do with those boys from Prattville I put in front of you? How did you mold them into men I need them to be?’”
Carr spoke about the coaching staff he wants to build around him. “We’re going to put together a great coaching staff. A head coach is only as good as the coaches around him. I assure you we’re going to put together a quality staff that’s going to get this program headed in the right direction.”
When asked about one word to describe the way his team will play, Carr did not hesitate. “Tough. This team will be tough. Everybody thinks I’m this flashy coach that throws the ball all over the place, but I want our boys tough.”
