Tyler Davis has been named Mountain Brook High School’s varsity boys basketball coach after serving 11 seasons as assistant coach in the program. Davis, who also has coached the junior varsity team, takes the place of Bucky McMillan, who left the school this year for a coaching job at Samford University. “Coach Davis is a wonderful person and already has a great working … [Read more...]
Respect and Admiration: Anderson’s Retirement Plans as Vestavia Hills Football Coach Catches Long-Time Sports Writing Friend Off Guard
By Rubin E. Grant The news came out of nowhere for me on Monday. My longtime friend Buddy Anderson is retiring as head football coach at Vestavia Hills High School at the end of the 2020 season. And yes, I said friend. Anderson’s second year as head coach, 1979, was the first year of my professional sports writing career in Birmingham. At first it was a reporter-coach … [Read more...]
Buddy Anderson Retiring Following 2020 Football Season
Longtime Vestavia Hills football coach Buddy Anderson is planning to retire at the end of the 2020 season. Anderson told his players on Monday after the Rebels held their first workouts since the COVID-19 shutdown. Anderson, who recently turned 70, is the winningest coach in Alabama high school football history with a record of 342-154. The 2020 season will be his 43rd … [Read more...]
Early Days: Fighting Patriots Recounts First Three Years of Homewood Football Program
By Rubin E. Grant Wade Kirkpatrick is in the market for a book agent. He figured the best way to attract one was to write another book. “I published my first book last year and I needed a second book to get an agent,” said Kirkpatrick, who goes by the pen name Patrick Kirk. So, as he had done with his first book, “Lighting Storm,” Kirkpatrick turned to a subject with which … [Read more...]
Coaching Carousel: Homewood’s Esslinger Leaves for Hewitt-Trussville
If Homewood’s track and field dynasty continues during the 2020-21 school year, it will be without coach Tom Esslinger. Esslinger has been named the new Hewitt-Trussville track and field coach. He had coached Homewood’s track and field teams since 2005, winning 20 state championships. He was named the 2017 girls track and field national Coach of the Year. Esslinger replaces … [Read more...]