MONTGOMERY – Three outstanding high school football coaches at AHSAA member schools have been chosen as head coaches for two all-star games – the Alabama-Mississippi Classic in December and the North-South Classic at All-Star Sports Week in July.
Fred Yancey, Briarwood Christian’s long-time football coach, has been selected head coach for the Alabama all-star team for the annual Alabama-Mississippi Football Classic next Dec. 24 at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Bob Godsey of Hartselle and Randy Ragsdale of Trinity have been chosen to head the North and South teams, respectively.
Yancey To Lead Alabama Squad
Yancey has compiled a 211-77-1 career record for the Lions with state championships won in Class 5A in 2003 and in Class 3A in 1999 and 1998. Briarwood finished 8-4 last season, falling to Carver-Montgomery in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
The selection was made by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).
Alabama holds a 16-7 edge in the series after winning the 2009 game 21-13.
“Fred Yancey is one of the state’s most respected high school coaches, ASHSADCA Director Steve Bailey said. “The entire staff is an outstanding one that we think can keep the Alabama football tradition continuing.”
Alabama has now won two in a row, four of the last five contests and 10 of the last 12 in a series that began in June of 1988.
Also named to the Alabama all-star coaching staff are Alvin Briggs of Florence, Thomas “Tripp” Curry of Cherokee County, Chris Fancher of Gardendale, Tom Causey of Demopolis, David Lowery of Brantley and Al Pogue of Carver-Montgomery. Geoff Walters of Briarwood Christian will serve as the scout coach.
Curry led Cherokee County to a perfect 15-0 season and the 4A state title in 2009, Causey led Demopolis to the 5A state title and Lowery directed Brantley to the 1A state crown.
The players for the 37-member squad that will face Mississippi’s best seniors will be selected next fall.
Godsey, Ragsdale To Head North-South Teams
Hartselle head football coach Bob Godsey and Trinity’s Randy Ragsdale have been selected as head coaches for the North-South game played in July. Steve Bailey, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association, made the announcement.
Godsey (101-39-0), who guided the Tigers to a 10-3 record last season, will coach the North in the July 16 game which closes All-Star Sports Week at Huntsville this summer. Named to his staff are Rueben Nelson, Midfield; Kris Herron, Clay County; Joe Billingsley, Gadsden City; Ken Adams, Lamar County; Eric Cohu, Madison Academy; Davd Powell, McAdory; Kyle Dawkins, Wetumpka, the administrative coach.
Ragsdale (193-55-0), the head coach at Trinity in Montgomery, will be head coach of the South squad. His Wildcats went 11-0 last season before falling to Luverne in the quarterfinals.
His staff includes Jeff Kelly, Jackson; Scott Rials, Elba; Les Sanders, Luverne; Mike Battles, Bibb County; Jerome Tate, Loachapoka; Joe Nettles, Washington County; and Mike Glisson of Auburn, the administrative coach.
All-Star Sports Week is scheduled July 12-16 in Huntsville with all-star competition set in baseball, boys and girls soccer, softball, volleyball, girls and boys basketball and football.
The highlight of the week will be the annual Coaches School and Championship Coaches luncheon.
