Sparkman’s Laron White to retire as head football coach

Sparkman’s Laron White to retire as head football coach

Sparkman head football coach Laron White, who coached Tanner to its only two state championships and the Senators to four state playoff appearances in the past six years, is retiring.

White retires with a 34-30 mark at the school in Harvest and is 182-60 overall in 20 years as a head coach. White’s 2012 Tanner team was 14-0 in claiming the Class 2A state title. The next season, the Rattlers were 13-1 and repeated as state champs – beating Washington County both years. His 2011 squad finished 14-1, falling in the championship game to Elba. White led Tanner to nine region championships.

“It was a tough decision,” the coach said, “but all in all, I’m pretty sure it was right. I hope I did a good job here and somebody can take it to the next level.”

Sparkman principal Chris Shaw praised White in a release from the school.

“We will miss coach White on the sidelines here at Sparkman,” he said. “In his time here, he has created a culture and community we are very proud of. His high expectations, intense preparation and desire to see each student-athlete in his program succeed are just a few reasons he will retire as one of the most decorated coaches in Alabama.”

Shaw said White would continue his classroom duties through the end of the school year.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while and praying for guidance,” White said. “I was going to try to go for one more year, but the only way you can announce (retirement) and say one more year is if you have somebody right beside you as a coach-in-waiting. It would be a disservice for me to do that.

“I wanted our kids to be tough, hard-nosed. I want them to believe they can do anything. It’s not necessarily about wins, but I want them to go as hard as they can in spite of circumstances so they can be successful.

“I wish we could have won some more games, but we had some breaks go against us,” White said. “But, I’ve had some great breaks over the years, too.”

White, a Courtland native, is the son of longtime Courtland head football coach Louis White and the older brother of Kelvis White, the head coach at Bob Jones. “Kelvis said he wouldn’t believe it until he saw it in the paper,” Laron White said.

Louis White is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Class of 2003. He led the Chiefs to four state titles.

Laron White played football for Gene Stallings at the University of Alabama from 1993-96 after earning a spot on the AHSAA All-Star team. White was the offensive line coach in 2011 for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. He graduated at UA in 1997 and received his master’s degree from the University of West Alabama. His first job was on the Decatur High School staff, working for the recently retired Jere Adcock.

White’s oldest son, KaRon, is a redshirt sophomore defensive lineman at Appalachian State. He and his wife, Kathy, also have 12-year-old twins, Kaden and Karsen. “When KaRon plays on odd days, like a Thursday night, I want to be there,” White said. “I’ve driven all night from those kinds of games and got home early in the morning and have to work. I want to be around him and do other stuff.

“The twins are in the sixth grade, so for the next two years they will be playing on Thursday nights.”

White said he was in the market for a job in the private sector, but he has nothing lined up yet. Shaw said the search for a replacement would start immediately.