Elberta High head football coach and athletic director Nathan McDaniel is stepping down after five years at the school.

McDaniel turned in his resignation Friday morning.

“It’s been an incredible honor and privilege to serve as the head football coach and athletic director at Elberta High School for the last five years,” he said in a statement. “Elberta has been a blessing for me and my family, and I am eternally grateful for them, principal Branton Bailey, the Baldwin County Board of Education and the towns of Elberta, Summerdale and Lillian.”

McDaniel said the decision to step away was “100 percent” his call. The Warriors went 10-40 in his tenure but took significant steps forward in facilities and competitiveness during his time at the school.

“It has been a pleasure and an incredible challenge to try to get this program off the ground,” he said. “When we arrived in 2020, we didn’t even have the basic tools to compete at any level. Now, they have state-of-the-art facilities that will set this place up for future success. I feel like it is time for me to step aside and explore other opportunities.”

McDaniel said he would remain as athletic director for the remainder of the school year and re-evaluate what is next at that point.

“I am eternally grateful for the friendships and experiences that we have made over the last five years,” he said. “Elberta is a wonderful place, and I am blessed to have been a part of it. God is faithful, and I am excited to see what’s next.”

In a social media post, McDaniel also thanked his assistant coaches and the Elberta players along with his wife Tamara and their daughters, Mia Marie and Alma.

“We have awesome kids,” McDaniel said in his post.

McDaniel was just the third coach in Elberta’s short history. Greg Seibert started the program. The team went 5-9 in two seasons as a junior varsity program under Seibert, while playing mostly against varsity competition. Lanny Jones followed him but resigned in April 2020, having not coached a game.

The Warriors compete in Class 5A, Region 1 along with Vigor, Williamson, Citronelle, UMS-Wright, B.C. Rain, LeFlore and Faith Academy. Four of those schools (Vigor, UMS, LeFlore and Faith Academy) will also have new coaches in 2025.

McDaniel’s first head coaching job came at Baldwin County High where he went 31-29 in six seasons from 2014-2019.

Prior to his arrival at Baldwin County, he spent two years as defensive coordinator at Daleville, four years as linebackers coach at Prattville and two years as defensive coordinator at Daphne. He was a part of Prattville state championship teams in both 2008 and 2011.

BALDWIN COUNTY COACHES

Longest tenured current head football coaches in Baldwin County.

Phil Lazenby (Bayside Academy, Bayshore Christian) – 18 years

Tim Carter (Fairhope) – 10 years

Kenny King (Daphne) – 9 years

Keith Smith (Snook Christian) – 7 years

Chase Smith (Robertsdale, Orange Beach, Spanish Fort) – 6 years

Deric Scott (Foley) – 5 years

Philip Rivers (St. Michael) – 4 years

Mark Hudspeth (Gulf Shores) – 4 years

Barrett Trotter (Bayside Academy) – 2 years

Wade Waldrop (Orange Beach) – 1 year

Andrew Davis (Baldwin County) – 1 year

Based on football seasons completed.

The Robertsdale and Elberta jobs are currently open.