By David Knox
Sports Editor
George Bates, who took Minor to two Class 6A state quarterfinal trips, has been approved as the new head football coach at Center Point.
Bates, who spent last season at Woodlawn, replaces Shawn Gregory. Gregory was 1-19 in two years at Center Point, which played in Class 6A those seasons. The Eagles drop down to Class 5A for this season, in Region 5 with Springville, St. Clair County, Mortimer Jordan, Moody, Munford, Central-Clay County and Sylacauga.
Bates’ Colonels were 1-9 last year in Class 5A, Region 5. He began his head coaching career at Parker, leading the Thundering Herd to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2013. He was 12-10 there, and then led Minor to three straight playoff berths. He was not retained after the 2016 season, and then moved on to Woodlawn.
His career record is 39-30.
Center Point has fallen on hard times since making the 5A playoffs in 2013 under Bennie Hall. The Eagles moved up to 6A and went 3-37. A move back to 5A may help, as the Eagles were 59-38 in that class from 2005 under Willie Miller (2005-2011) and Hall (2013) with five playoff trips. The next two seasons in 6A under Hall, however, the Eagles were 2-18.