By Loyd McIntosh
On September 18, the Homewood Patriots traveled down I-65 and handily defeated the Helena Huskies by the score of 34-7. It was the team’s third consecutive win and, coincidentally, its third straight region win.
The victory puts Homewood in an excellent position as the regular season gives way to the playoffs. However, this mid-season win mattered for another reason: it marked the 100th victory for Homewood Head Coach Ben Berguson.
Berguson’s time at Homewood has been wildly successful, especially considering the average high school football coach tenure is less than four years in Alabama’s highest classification. Coaching football in this state isn’t for the squeamish; that’s for certain.
Berguson’s strong leadership and demeanor have led to years of consistency and excellence at Homewood. The 100-win milestone places Berguson alongside legends Bob Newton and Gerald Gann, who earned 124 wins and 108 wins, respectively, and were both inducted in Homewood’s inaugural Sports Hall of Fame class in October.
If the Patriots win their remaining regular-season games and make another deep playoff run, Berguson could overtake Gann this season, but he’ll almost certainly do so in 2027, a fact he finds hard to believe. “It’s a little bit surreal, really,” says Berguson. “I guess if you’re somewhere long enough, things like that are going to happen. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been here that many years.
A Louisiana native, Berguson spent two decades as an assistant coach, including eight years on the staff at Midfield High School and later at Spain Park. In 2010, he served as Spain Park’s interim head coach, leading the Jaguars to a 6-6 record, including a 36-35 over Homewood, and a playoff win over Tuscaloosa County.
Joining Homewood’s staff in 2011, Berguson served as the offensive line coach for three seasons under Doug Goodwin and was promoted to head coach in 2014. Since then, Berguson has led Homewood to four region championships, four seasons with at least 10 wins and made the playoffs in every season at the helm.
While the head coach is focal point of any football team, Berguson is quick to give his assistant coaches the praise. “The credit really should go to the assistant coaches. We work 80 plus hours a week, and I just happen to be the one with HC by my name,” Berguson says. “Everything they do makes me look good,” Berguson adds with his sense of humor and penchant for self-deprecation fully intact. “I’m just a team manager; they do all the coaching.”
Many of those assistant coaches have been at Homewood for most or all of Berguson’s run, including offensive coordinator Heath Brunner and defensive coordinator Freddy Lawrence. Brunner joined the staff 12 years ago after four seasons as the head coach at Jasper High School (formerly Walker County High School). Lawrence has been the defensive coordinator since 2012, coaching alongside Berguson during his entire 16 years at Homewood. “That just creates stability in the program, keeping the staff together like that. I’ve made very few hires over the years,” Berguson says.
Berguson also credits Homewood’s dynamics for creating an environment in which long-term success is possible. Berguson says he and the coaching staff are blessed with players who grow up together, know each other well and already have great chemistry before setting foot on campus at Homewood High School, which, as anyone who has ever coached kids at any level knows, is half the battle.
“It’s such a close-knit community. Our kids grow up together and have been playing together for years, and they play for each other, so we’re able to get a lot out of them,” Berguson says. “Homewood is such a great place to work. Once you get here, you don’t want to leave.”
Homewood City Schools Athletic Director Rick Baguley says Berguson’s steady leadership, love for the players and the community, and his willingness to let the coaching staff work without micromanaging have been a recipe for success in the last 13 years. “Coach Berguson is an incredible man to work with. He will do just about anything for anyone in our building,” said Baguley. “He loves his players and strikes a great balance between hard work and keeping things light when needed.
Ben Berguson’s Signature Homewood Wins
- September 5, 2014: Homewood 37, Pelham 30—Berguson’s first victory as Homewood’s head coach, coming after opening the season with losses to Decatur and Vestavia Hills. Homewood then went on a nine-game winning streak and won the region championship.
- November 7, 2014: Homewood 25, Hartselle 21—Berguson’s first playoff victory, capping his first season. The Patriots finished 9-3 and were undefeated in region play.
- September 1, 2017: Homewood 6, Vestavia Hills 0—Homewood snapped a 10-year losing streak against its neighboring rival during a 10-2 season that included another undefeated region championship.
- November 11, 2022: Homewood 24, Pike Road 21—The Patriots knocked off Pike Road in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs to advance to the quarterfinals. Homewood finished 10-3 after a wild 57-56 overtime loss to eventual state champion Saraland.
- October 17, 2025: Homewood 35, Parker 28—Homewood defeated the defending Class 6A state champion to clinch the Region 5 championship, part of an 11-2 season, Berguson’s winningest at Homewood.
- September 4, 2026: Homewood 33, Mountain Brook 13—The Patriots earned their first victory over Mountain Brook since 2009 and Berguson’s first against the Spartans as Homewood’s head coach.
- September 18, 2026: Homewood 34, Helena 7—Berguson earned his 100th victory as Homewood’s head coach, becoming only the third coach in program history to reach the century mark, joining Bob Newton and Gerald Gann.
