From Trussville Tribune staff reports
CLAY — Clay-Chalkville head coach Jerry Hood has resigned his position as head football coach Wednesday.
Hood has been the coach for the Cougars since 2009, taking over for Brent Smith. His 2016 team was 6-5, following two consecutive trips to the AHSAA Super 7 state finals.
At Clay-Chalkville, Hood comprised a record of 84-17 on the field, but only 75-26 in the record books after nine wins in 2011 were forfeited. Hood led the Cougars to the 2014 state championship.
“We hate to lose a man the caliber of Jerry Hood at Clay-Chalkville,” CCHS Principal Michael Lee said. “As much of an asset as he’s been on our sidelines, he’s been an even bigger asset to our kids’ lives.
“We have the utmost respect for Coach Hood and for his decision, and we wish him the very best of luck in his future.”
Hood began his coaching career in 1993 at McAdory High School as an assistant coach. In 1996, he moved to Oak Mountain where he assisted in starting the program. From 1999-2003, Hood was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach in 2004. Hood went 28-26 over five seasons at Oak Mountain, and was hired at Clay-Chalkville in 2009.
His letter:
Serving as the Head Coach for Clay-Chalkville High School has been the most fulfilling professional experience of my life. Thank you for the opportunity to be involved in your child’s life. Thank you for your support of our coaches and kids. We have a great school and community. I have just completed meeting with the coaches and players about what I wish for them this coming year and in the future. I also shared with them how much all of the players, past and present, have meant to me and my family. Mostly, I wanted them to know that I love them and hope we can stay in each other’s lives forever. They are amazing young men. Today, I have resigned as Head Football Coach at Clay-Chalkville. I have poured my heart into many young people over the past 26 years and now I have the great pleasure to watch my children play sports, as only a DAD! I take that responsibility very seriously and consider it a blessing to be in a position to do so. I believe that we have some men on our staff that are more than capable and willing to lead this program. I trust that you will throw all of your support behind the next head coach. The next man will care for your kids and expand on the tradition of excellence that is Clay-Chalkville Football. There are many to thank for their extra effort in making Clay-Chalkville Football a nationally recognized football program. I especially want to thank Steve Laney and Ken Storie for bringing me back to CCHS in 2009. Mayor Charles Webster, City Manager Ronnie Dixon, and the City of Clay for their support of our kids and coaches. Every one of you that served on our Booster Board and in the club, a very special thank you for your sacrifice. A sincere appreciation to Principal Michael Lee for taking our school and transforming it into the great place that it is today. A special thanks to Jefcoed and Superintendent Pouncey for believing in the power of education. Finally, a very sincere appreciation to our coaches that have worked side by side with me through the years. You are outstanding coaches and even better men. I learned from you every day! Clay-Chalkville is lucky to have you. I will still be around, so I hope to visit with you all soon. From the bottom of my heart please know that I Love You and appreciate you letting us be a part of your family. May God’s blessings be with you and Clay-Chalkville.
Sincerely,
Jerry
39 Comments
Kevin Small
In the words of Bad Cop. “Darny darn darn darn”
Ann Ryals Mcpherson
Oh no
Karen Bell Durbin
Jenny Elk Morgan
Donna Martin Key
A loss for Clay for sure!
Christina Parker Miller
Thanks Coach for all that you have done for our boys!! You will be missed!!
Jess Odom
Was it a forced resignation!? Or is he going somewhere else?
Jeremy Hyde
Rob Rice Justin Gibbs
Justin Gibbs
👀👀👀👀👀
Jeremy Hyde
It’s in the water!
Christina Parker Miller
This was in the bottom of the article
I have poured my heart into many young people over the past 26 years and now I have the great pleasure to watch my children play sports, as only a DAD! I take that responsibility very seriously and consider it a blessing to be in a position to do so.
Cindy Isbell Cosper
Oh nooooo……good luck in your future Coach Hood. You will be missed..
Jess Odom
Ah so he’s just ready to retire. Such a great guy!
Lindsay Danielle Keim
Natalie Shannon!!!!
Rob Rice
Hmmmm…..
Lisa Henson Wood
Jason Wood
Molly Howard
Shannon Meadows Wells
Shannon Meadows Wells
I know
Christie Henson Mckee
Doubt he is retiring…bet he lands somewhere else….
Thomas Kendrick
Seriously,their has to be more to the story than the statement. He almost left last year for those of you who pay attention. I bet you he lands elsewhere in due time.
Bill Dooley
I heard Lane Kiffin is coming to Clay
Kathy Bailey
That is sad
Jules Minton
Spencer Wood….show this to Dustin
Kayla Allen
Matt Allen
Jeanne Anne Driver Mauck
Read his letter…sounds like he’s going to make himself more available for his kids….which I totally support
Seth King
Jay Yarbrough I know a good hire …. he’s about 5’5 225 and loves the word “bro”
Spencer Wood
Dustin Wood
Amy Nesbitt Brackett
but he has to working somewhere ya think?
Jeanne Anne Driver Mauck
The story says he resigned as head coach. I’m thinking he may still be teaching
Jeanne Anne Driver Mauck
At Clay
Christie Henson Mckee
Teaching what? Drivers Ed like he has been?
Jeanne Anne Driver Mauck
I’m not sure
Christie Henson Mckee
Exactly what I said..he has all these people fooled except us I guess…lol…but you dont make much on just a teachers salary to keep up over the mountain living..unless he has won the lottery or came into a big trust fund somewhere which i highly doubt…he has something in the works, i would almost bet on it
Jeanne Anne Driver Mauck
I think the Tribune left out that Hood was at Clay before he went to Oak Mtn
Thomas Kendrick
I’m a Trussville graduate,so please don’t think I’m trying to crack on CC,but coming from over the mountain,I think their comes a time when you have to ask yourself,do I want my kids raised up in the CC school system? I think not. Theirs more to life than building a dominate football program in which coach Hood has done. It was somewhat of a laughing stock before he got there in 2009. That program is filtered with talent year in and out. An average coach can win there,but as far as School and atmosphere,well I’ll just leave that subject alone.
The Trussville Tribune
I’m unsure what you mean. Coach Hood did not coach at Clay before he coached at Oak Mountain. He left McAdory to go to OMHS.
Jeanne Anne Driver Mauck
I thought I had heard that but was not sure
Christie Henson Mckee
His kids go to Oak Mountain….
Thomas Kendrick
All the better than.Maybe he just sees the writing on the wall. I’m just assuming,no facts here.
Quintella LovingLife
Is he going to Minor?