This is an opinion piece.

Jack French may be the most modest football coach I’ve ever been around.

He consistently gives credit to his assistant coaches, players, family and, especially, his Savior for any success he’s had on the football field and in life.

That is why it was so rewarding so see the Faith Academy coach notch his 300th victory two weeks ago against Class 5A, Region 1 rival Vigor.

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“I never thought about 100 (wins), let alone 300,” he said. “I don’t even think I ever thought about 30. We’ve had some good times, and the Lord has blessed me beyond measure. We just trusted Him, and He has taken care of us.”

French’s first coaching job came at DeSoto County Academy in Mississippi in 1975. He lost his first two games there before finally getting the first of his now 301 victories.

At the time, he said he was just glad to be employed.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do before I got that job,” he said. “I had just gotten married and had no means of support. My savings were running out. I was doing work study and making $4 a day. My wife (Karen) was making $1.19 an hour. But it all worked out.”

Indeed it did.

French won 196 games in 25 years at seven Mississippi schools. His magic touch followed him to Alabama where he has notched 105 victories in 14 years at Baldwin County, Clarke County, Baker and now Faith.

His overall record is 301-134-2 in 39 years.

“It does mean a lot,” he said of the milestone win. “I’m not going to lie. I know some guys who fell just short, and I thought at the time that I would rather retire with 250 or 260 wins than be close and not make it. From that standpoint, it means a lot.

“More than anything, though, what means the most to me is I could tell how much being a part of it meant to our assistant coaches and our players. I think they were as thrilled as I was. I’ve also been blessed to hear from some guys from 10 or 20 years back. One guy on my very first team even called. It’s been humbling.”

Though he won multiple state titles in Mississippi, French’s most remarkable coaching likely has come in his last two stops here in Alabama.

He took over a bad Baker program in 2011. The Hornets were 27-173 under their last six coaches and hadn’t made the playoffs in two decades. French went 27-15 in four years and took the team to the postseason twice.

Same story, different school with Faith. After a brief retirement, French took over the Rams in 2018. Prior to his arrival, Faith had gone 23-66 in AHSAA play and had never made the postseason. Currently in his fifth season, French has guided the team to 42 wins already. The Rams have made the playoffs each year, including a run to the state semifinals – and very nearly to the state championship game – in 2020.

We’ve long asked French about the secret to his success.

He always has said it is pretty simple.

“It’s got nothing to do with Jack French,” he said. “It’s all God. You have to trust Him. Don’t get me wrong. I was nervous sometimes and, as I look back on it, I realize I didn’t have any other career choices. There were no options, so I just had to wait on Him. I thought many times about doing something else, but fortunately God never opened any other doors.”

It’s been said that God honors those who honor Him.

Jack French is certainly a prime example.

Congratulations on 300, coach.

Another milestone victory

Fairhope coach Tim Carter notched his 150th victory last week when the Pirates beat rival Daphne 26-7.

Carter won 14 games at AISA Monroe Academy, 84 at Auburn High and now has 52 wins in eight years at Fairhope. He played for a state championship at Auburn (2013) and has fielded one of the most consistent teams on the Gulf Coast since his arrival at Fairhope.

His Pirates team this year is 6-1 heading into Friday’s Region 1 matchup against Alma Bryant.

Another Gulf coach is also close to a milestone. Bayside’s Phil Lazenby is 2 wins shy of 200 (198-105 in 26 years).

Chasing the overall record

UMS-Wright’s win over B.C. Rain last week gave head coach Terry Curtis 343 overall victories in 435 games coached.

Curtis is now three wins from tying former Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson as the state’s all-time winningest coach. Anderson won 346 of the 506 games he coached in his long career.

Curtis would tie the mark if UMS wins its final three regular season games against Citronelle, Faith Academy and Williamson. He could break it in the first round of the playoffs.

Also in the chase for the overall record are Central-Clay County’s Danny Horn and Fyffe’s Paul Benefield. Horn has 337 wins. Benefield has 329. Waldon Tucker retired with 322.

Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. His weekly column is posted each Wednesday and Friday on AL.com. He can be heard weekly on the Cooper Restaurants “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.