By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
CLAY – A few weeks ago, Drew Gilmer left Clay-Chalkville to become the new head coach of one of the most recognizable high schools in the state of Alabama, the Hoover Bucs. The Cougars did not have to look far for the man who would lead them into the future.
Unlike many schools, Clay-Chalkville did not have the “what now?” mentality when replacing the 81-12 head man who had won two state titles with the Cougars. There was a correct answer already on staff, a name that many thought should have gotten the job when Gilmer was hired.
Stuart Floyd is a Clay-Chalkville original. He came over from Erwin High School back in 1997, Clay-Chalkville’s second year in existence. “They had a stellar 1-9 record and then I came here,” joked Floyd, to a chorus of laughs from the crowd on Thursday. Floyd was the starting quarterback for the Cougars in 1999 when they won their first 6A state championship in only their fourth year in existence.
Floyd graduated in 2000 and played football at Southern Mississippi before returning home to Clay-Chalkville to help coach the middle school football team before being called up by then-head coach Jerry Hood.
Floyd was also the offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2023 championship teams.
The years between those two championships were filled with moving between a few different schools. When Jerry Hood left Clay after the 2016 season, Floyd was a contender for the job, but another Hood assistant, Gilmer, got the job.
Floyd left for Hewitt-Trussville High School as an assistant. Hewitt was Clay’s biggest rivals at the time before the Huskies moved to 7A and the two ceased playing each other. After two years at Hewitt, Floyd moved to Mortimer Jordan where he was an assistant for two years before taking over the head coaching spot with the Blue Devils in 2021. After that Floyd spent a season as Jon Clements’ offensive coordinator before returning to Clay last season to coach the offense under Drew Gilmer.
Now, Floyd’s patience and hard work have paid off. On Thursday, in the high school auditorium, Stuart Floyd was officially announced as the Cougars’ eighth head coach in history.
“I don’t even know how I feel right now,” said the new head coach. “I never thought I would ever be back here a few years ago.”
Floyd thanked family, friends, church family and Gilmer. “I would like to thank Coach Gilmer for bringing me back this year. And…for leaving so I could get the job here,” to which the crowd once again erupted in laughter.
Floyd had a message for his community, his team and for other teams out there. “I cannot promise you wins or losses but what I can promise is that we will work hard. We have reached the mountain top, but we have to realize that the mountain top view is only for a little while. We have to get back into that valley and start a new climb. And to those in the Birmingham area, the players at Clay-Chalkville, they are not up for grabs. They are not for sale. I have seen stuff on social media that Clay-Chalkville’s stock is falling. That could not be further from the truth. We have big shoes to fill. You just don’t know their name, but you will.”
Clay-Chalkville’s Principal, Dr. Eugene Dallas said the following about the hire. “First, I want to say that losing Coach (Drew) Gilmer was a tremendous hit to our program. He kept a tradition going that Coach (Jerry) Hood and some others before him started. When he told me that he may be taking the position at Hoover, I understood and wished him nothing but the best. After that, we posted the job and we had a multitude of candidates apply, even from the collegiate level. I did my due diligence and met with board members to assist me. We vetted and it always led me back to Stuart Floyd. What resonated for me was that this is special for him. It’s a special place for him. It’s rare to get your head coach being a guy who won the first state title as a player, then wins the next one as an offensive coordinator, then misses one and then the most recent one, this year, wins another one. That success has always been there with him but he has never had the title. He has it now. It’s now the Stuart Floyd era here at Clay-Chalkville High School. It’s a great day to be a Cougar. We are excited about it!”
Some of Stuart’s former employers spoke highly of him.
Current Springville coach Jon Clements, who had Coach Floyd as his offensive coordinator in 2022, said, “Stu is one of the brightest football minds I’ve ever been around. He is a great quarterback developer and really gets the best out of his offense.”
Leeds head coach and Clay-Chalkville legend Jerry Hood said, “Stewart is a great offensive mind. I think it is the right place and right time for Stuart Floyd to continue the great tradition of Clay-Chalkville football.”