A pair of Alabama coaches were among five nationwide first-year high school coaches recognized by Rivals this week.

Hoover’s Chip English and UMS-Wright’s Sam Williams were two of the coaches Rivals expects to make a big impact on their program in 2025.

English took over at Hoover on an interim basis in 2024 and led the Bucs to a 10-3 record, a Class 7A, Region 3 title and an appearance in the state semifinals. He was named the school’s full-time head coach in December.

Williams was hired by UMS in March to take over for one of Alabama’s all-time winningest coaches, Terry Curtis. The Mississippi native and former Mississippi State wide receiver spent the last four years as head coach at Brandon, Miss.

“I’m excited about new opportunities and fired up about where we are as a program,” Williams said in a social media post. “We have assembled a top-notch staff and have unbelievable kids and support.”

Curtis spent 26 years at UMS, winning 8 state titles along the way. His final team went 6-7 and lost in the Class 5A quarterfinals to Vigor. The Williams’ era officially opens Aug. 22 at home against rival St. Paul’s.

Of replacing Curtis, Rivals states: “Needless to say, we think Williams is up for the challenge after what he was able to do at Brandon. UMS-Wright won six games last season, and Williams should be able to improve on that right away.”

English’s first season as Hoover’s full-time coach and second overall opens against national power IMG Academy on Aug. 21. As interim coach in 2024, he steadied the program after Drew Gilmer’s sudden resignation in August following a practice incident.

“That’s the same thing we told him (English) when it happened,” Hoover AD Harley Lamey said when announcing English as the full-time coach. “You got the perfect opportunity. Nobody gets this. Usually it’s a 45-minute interview and that’s it. This guy had an opportunity to interview for the whole season. Here’s the keys to the Ferrari, let’s see what you can do with it. Through that, he proved he was the right candidate for the job.”

Rivals expects him to prove that again in 2025.

“With the way English has this program moving, we expect him to return Hoover to the top,” the article states.

The Bucs’ last state title came in 2017 under former coach Josh Niblett.

The other three coaches on Rivals’ list of impact hires were Jordan Gill of Gunter, Texas; former USC and Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer of Santa Margarita Catholic, California; and Greg Studrawa of IMG Academy.

https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2024/08/hoover-football-coaches-drew-gilmer-adam-helms-resign-in-wake-of-practice-videos.html