By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — Hewitt-Trussville has its new head football coach.
Shiloh (Ark.) Christian High School’s Josh Floyd will be named the new Huskies head coach at a special-called meeting Monday, June 2, according to a Trussville City Schools press release.
Athletics Director Karen Johns, Hewitt-Trussville High School Principal Tim Salem and Superintendent Pattie Neill will make the recommendation to the Trussville City Board of Education Monday at 5 p.m.
Josh Floyd and family
photo courtesy of shilohchristianfootball.com
Floyd has 10 years’ experience as head football coach at Shiloh Christian High School in Arkansas. His teams have a record of 99-29-1. Shiloh played in five consecutive state championship games, winning state in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and finishing as state runner-up in 2007.
Floyd’s teams were football conference champions from 2005 – 2010. Teams coached by Floyd have also finished nationally-ranked three times during the past four years. In January 2011, Floyd coached in the High School Under Armour All-American game. The American Football Monthly recently listed Coach Floyd as one of the top 10 coaches in the country under the age of 40.
Floyd was the starting quarterback at Shiloh Christian from 1996-1998 under head coach Gus Malzhan, current head coach for Auburn University and one of Floyd’s references for the position at Hewitt-Trussville High School.
During Floyd’s career in high school, he broke state and national passing records while leading his team to the school’s first state championship in 1998. Floyd played in college for Ouachita Baptist University until an injury ended his playing career. He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education.
He and his wife, Kate, were married in January 2003. They have three sons.
Upon board approval, Floyd will officially begin June 9, but on the evening of June 2 Floyd will be in Trussville.
Floyd will meet the team from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday in the high school cafeteria. He will then meet the community in the high school’s auditorium from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Floyd replaces Hal Riddle, who was relieved of his coaching duties in April. Riddle compiled a 79-55 record in 12 seasons at Hewitt-Trussville.
Floyd will be just the third Hewitt-Trussville head football coach since 1983. Jack Wood coached from 1983 through 2001, and Riddle from 2002 through 2013.
Josh Floyd
photo courtesy of shilohchristianfootball.com
Shiloh Christian released a statement Thursday confirming Floyd’s resignation.
“We are greatly saddened because of the great legacy that Coach Floyd has had here at Shiloh developing student-athletes both on and off of the field,” the statement reads. “During Coach Floyd’s 10-year career at Shiloh, he has compiled a 99-29-1 record, including four state championships and one runner-up finish. During a run from 2006-2010, Shiloh was the state’s most winningest program. In 2009, Shiloh finished ranked No. 1 in all classifications in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Poll while also attaining a No. 24 national ranking in USA Today.”
Shiloh Christian made the playoffs nine out of Floyd’s 10 years as head coach. The school sent 24 players on to play college football.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity that is ahead of Coach Floyd,” the statement reads. “Hewitt-Trussville is a member of the newly formed 7A classification in Alabama made up of 32 teams. The Huskies will be in a region with Alabama powers such as Hoover, Spain Park, and Vestavia Hills.
“We believe this opportunity allows Coach Floyd to continue to fulfill our mission as a school and church of “Reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ” in a great way. Shiloh loves Coach Josh Floyd and his family. We wish them the best in their new pursuit, and we will pray for them as they go.”
Shiloh Christian vowed to immediately undertake a “diligent and aggressive” search for a new head coach.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
