Covington County board of education board members voted Tuesday to hire Buckler, and FHS principal Donny Powell said Buckler comes to Florala from John Carroll Catholic School in Birmingham. He is dually certified to teach both physical education and social studies.

Buckler replaces former head football coach Stan Gooden, whose resignation was accepted at the Tues., May 25 special called meeting.

Buckler’s resume is extensive, and for two years coached under former University of Alabama head coach Mike Shula.

He is an Indiana native, and said that he is “excited” about the opportunity of building the football program at Florala.

“I am excited,” Buckler said in a telephone interview Thursday. “The biggest thing is getting everyone involved. If we don’t get everyone behind the program, it won’t be successful. It’s really about buying into the program. Once we have that, then I think it will be a program everyone will be proud of.”

Buckler’s complete story on what he will do to help build the football program up at Florala will be in the Sat., June 12 edition of the Star-News.