By Rubin E. Grant
Even though he led Mountain Brook to its first championship game appearance since 1996, Chris Yeager figured someone else would be the 2022 All-OTM Coach of the Year.
He pointed to his former defensive coordinator Robert Evans, who guided Vestavia Hills to a 7-5 record and a second-round Class 7A playoff appearance in his first season; Wade Waldrop, who led Hoover to an 11-2 record and a Class 7A semifinal trip in his first season; and Ben Berguson, who led Homewood to a 10-3 record and the Class 6A quarterfinals.
But when the votes of Over-the-Mountain football coaches were tallied, Yeager had earned the nod for the second consecutive season.
“I’m a little surprised,” Yeager said. “Rob did a great job and Wade did a great job at Hoover following (former Bucs coach) Josh Niblett, and gosh, Ben Berguson did a great job at Homewood.”
The Spartans swept the 2022 All-OTM awards with junior running back Cole Gamble being voted the Offensive Player of the Year and senior linebacker Trent Wright being selected Defensive Player of the Year.
Mountain Brook finished with a 12-3 record and reached the Class 6A championship before losing 38-17 to Saraland.
Yeager wouldn’t say whether this season was his best coaching job, quickly pivoting to his coaching staff. He praised the work of all his assistants, including Shane Stearns, who was elevated to defensive coordinator after Robert Evans left, co-offensive coordinators Richard Kelley and Brad Easley, new defensive coaches Buddy Pell and Chad Merrill and new strength and conditioning coach Kyle Speer, who came from Tulane.
“I have an incredible staff,” Yeager said. “There were no egos, even though some of them have been head coaches and coordinators. They were all about the kids.
“This was the most positive staff I’ve had with the best energy. So, this is a staff award.”
As for his team, Yeager believes his players maximized their potential.
“From where we started to where we finished, I think this team did reach its potential,” he said. “They handled losses better than any team I’ve ever coached and did the things necessary after our losses to keep winning.”
He said the loss in the championship game didn’t diminish what his team accomplished. The Spartans were denied their first state title since winning back-to-back championships in 1975 and 1976.
“It’s been an incredible year,” Yeager said after the game. “I know there are 62 (6A) teams that want to be where we are. It did not turn out like we wanted, but I got to spend 15 weeks with these incredible guys. It has been so fun.”
