Opp native Jamey DuBose accepts job at Central-Phenix City

By Ryan McCollough

The Messenger

Charles Henderson football coach and Opp native Jamey DuBose will never coach a regular season game for the Trojans.

DuBose confirmed to The Messenger Tuesday that he has accepted the head coaching position at Central High School in Phenix City, Ala. DuBose said the decision to leave Charles Henderson after only four months on the job was one of the toughest decisions he has ever made.

“Troy City Schools has done everything possible to make this the toughest day of my life,” DuBose said. “My wife and I have talked and prayed about it for a few days and have come to a decision. I have to take this job.”

DuBose said the position at Central-Phenix City does not have the athletic director title associated with it, and it is “strictly coaching football.”

DuBose came to Charles Henderson in January, following the sudden resignation of former Trojan head coach Mike Dean in December 2013. He has been one of Alabama’s most successful coaches during the past decade, since becoming a head coach for the first time in 2002 at Susan Moore High School in Blountsville.

DuBose served as offensive coordinator and later head coach at Prattville High School. He captured three state championships, two as a head coach, with the Lions.

DuBose spent the last two seasons as head coach at Florence High School, and guided the Falcons to the quarterfinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs in 2013.

The move comes just days after Central-Phenix City decided to not renew the contract of head coach Woodrow Lowe.

The move puts DuBose back in the top classification of AHSAA football, as the Red Devils will be a part of the brand new 7A classification.

“I know the region well, so that will be interesting,” DuBose said. “We will be playing Auburn, Opelika and even Prattville, which is still near and dear to my heart. When I was at Prattville, Central was a place that always intrigued me. It has great tradition and great athletes. I told myself that I didn’t want to look back five years from now and question myself about not taking that chance to coach 7A football.”

The move comes a shock to some, but Troy City Schools Superintendent Dr. Lee Hicks knew the day he hired DuBose that offers would come.

“We knew when we hired him it was going to be tough keeping him year-in and year-out,” said Dr. Lee Hicks, superintendent of Troy City Schools. “When you have one of the best coaches in the state of Alabama, people are going to want him.”

DuBose led the Trojans through spring practice, and the Trojans were scheduled to begin summer workouts next week. He said the only part that bothers him about leaving Charles Henderson is the timing.

“I’ll be honest with you, the timing stinks,” DuBose said. “But at the same time, I don’t control that. I coach because I love the kids, but it is also a business for me because it’s my job. It is terrible timing, but over the last few days the talks intensified and they made an offer last Friday. I had to accept.”