Eric Collier told his Theodore High School football players this morning that he is stepping down after 15 seasons with the program, the last 10 as head coach.

Two sources told AL.com that Collier is expected to join Kane Wommack’s South Alabama staff in an off-field capacity. A South Alabama source said the hire is expected to become official in the next few weeks.

Collier went 71-41 as Bobcats head coach, including 13-1 with a state semifinals berth in 2022. Prior to that, he was an assistant at Theodore for five years and head coach at Alma Bryant for four.

“I’m letting God take the wheel,” he said. “I’ve had two jobs in my life. I don’t do well with change. I’m going to let God lead me. I’m going to show up every day and work my butt off and, if you do that, I think the Lord will bless you.”

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Collier’s two jobs have come as an Alma Bryant assistant and head coach and then as a Theodore assistant and head coach. He went 10-30 in four years at the helm of the Hurricanes.

“We came in and the program was deep in the red,” Collier said of the Bobcats. “They hadn’t had any new equipment or shoulder pads in a long time. The weight room was 20 years old, and we just went to work.

“You look now, and Theodore is not the richest program in the world, but it has what it needs. I think the culture we’ve developed is a that of a blue-collar program that will work and earn everything it gets.”

The Bobcats have been especially successful in the last three seasons, winning 33 of the last 38 games. The 2022 team went 13-1 and reached the Class 6A state semifinals before losing a rematch to eventual state champion Saraland. Theodore has won three region titles in the last six years.

“We have good athletes who have bought into what we are doing,” Collier said. “They show up and work their butt off every day. The success is just about holding our kids accountable and making sure they know our expectations. I think that more than anything else is what has made us successful over the years.”

Collier, who told his staff the news Wednesday afternoon, said he hopes to start his new job by the end of the month. When he gets there, he said he won’t forget where he’s been for the past 15 years.

“When I left Alma Bryant, my coaching record was 10-30,” he said. “Theodore helped me figure out a few things in the coaching profession. It’s really not about Xs and Os. It’s about making sure you build those relationships with the kids, hold them accountable and, even through the tough times, show them love.”

Collier also said he is thankful for the support he’s had from the Theodore community.

“I appreciate them totally buying into Theodore High School and Eric Collier,” he said. “Me and my family will be eternally grateful for the way we’ve been treated, and I’ll always be a Theodore Bobcat. To the kids I’ve coached, thank you for everything you’ve done.”