By: Shayla Terry

In a special meeting called by the Crenshaw County Board of Education, Phillip Coggins of Wetumpka was appointed as head coach of football at Highland Home School.

“We’re happy to have Coach Coggins here,” Crenshaw County Superintendent Dr. Boyd English said.

“We’re excited about the work he will do here.”

Coggins is currently the defensive coordinator and assistant athletic director at Wetumpka High School. In his 13th year of coaching, he has also had careers at Verbena High School and Chilton County High.

He says he is no stranger to Crenshaw County, as he had numerous colleagues speak highly of the area.

“I’ve known several former coaches who have coached here in the past,” Coggins said.

“They talked about the community atmosphere, and the potential that is here to come in and make an impact.”

Last year, Highland Home’s football program completed its season with a 3-8 record. Coggins says he looks forward to the opportunity to build pride within the program.

“I want for us to have a program that the students at Highland Home want to be apart of,” he says.

“I want it to be a place that they know that they are loved, and that they have to work hard to be successful.”

Coggins’ family, his wife, Faith, and two children, Kylie and Kaden, anticipate making the move to Crenshaw County.

“We’re all excited about it,” he says.

“The kids are excited about a new opportunity and a change of scenery, and I am as well.”

With over a decade of coaching under his belt, Coggins says there is one thing he takes with him into every new coaching venture.

“It takes work ethic,” he says.

“Often times what separates success and failure is your work ethic. You have to put in the hours and the work that’s necessary to be successful.”

Coggins will officially take his position at the start of the 2017-2018 school year.