This is an opinion piece.

Faith Academy football coach Jack French is less than two weeks away from receiving yet another well-deserved honor.

On July 25 in Lincoln, Neb., French will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Hall of Fame.

Though he has coached in Alabama since 2001, French will go into the Hall of Fame representing Mississippi.

He won 196 games in his home state and has added 110 in Alabama for a total of 306 victories in 39 years as a head coach. He will enter his 46th year of coaching overall later this fall.

“I’m pretty floored about that really,” the always humble French said when asked about the honor. “I think there are probably a million people that deserve it more than me, but I’m just lucky enough to be selected I guess.”

French’s longest tenure as a head coach came from 1987 to 2000 in Forest, Miss., where he won three state championships. Since coming to Alabama, he has famously resurrected struggling programs at Baldwin County, Baker and now Faith Academy.

“He has been amazing,” Theodore head coach Steve Mask said of French. “He has that unique ability to go into programs that have not been consistent winners to say the least and lift the programs to a level where they consistently compete for championships. His longevity says a lot about the energy he brings to every program he takes over.”

His current job is the perfect example of French’s Hall of Fame credentials.

He took over a Faith program that had won 38 games in a decade since moving from the AISA to the AHSAA and had never been to the playoffs in that league. French has won 47 games (against 16 losses) in five years and has led the Rams to the postseason every year. That run includes a pair of Class 5A semifinal appearances and a quarterfinal appearance.

“I love going to Faith Academy every day, love the people there and the players and coaches,” said French, now 70. “It’s a really unique place. To get someone like myself, who had been out for three years and they were interested in me coming to coach for them, that is a Godsend.”

Obviously, Faith is glad to have him.

Jeff Estes was the interim head coach when French was hired and has remained on staff. He said it has been “an honor and a pleasure” to learn from French every day.

“I guess if I had to zero in on the thing that gives coach that ‘Hall of Fame’ quality it would be this. Coach is being recognized as a Hall of Fame football coach, but thing about it is, he is a hall of famer in relationship building,” Estes said. “He has that innate ability to help you believe and care MORE about the things you should. That is, in my opinion, why his players and coaches work and play so hard. He shows why that caring is so important and why if you can give that to a game like football, it will be way easier to do in the important things in life. So, I guess what all boils down to, is that Jack French is a Hall of Famer of relationships. That is his real impact on the people he has touched.”

Congratulations coach. Well deserved.

The Battle of Prichard at Ladd

Simone Eli and WKRG were first to report this week that the annual Battle of Prichard football game between rivals Blount and Vigor is scheduled to be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 26.

This despite the fact that Vigor’s new on-campus football stadium is ready to go. However, due to the large crowd this game annually draws, MCPSS officials believe it will be better suited at Ladd.

“Being a Vigor alum, everyone wants to play the game at the stadium, but when the news came, I have to do what I have to do,” Vigor coach Markus Cook said of the decision. “The only thing I can control is getting my team there.”

The location of the game also may be dependent on the Mobile City Council and the MCPSS Board of Commissioners coming to terms on the sale of Ladd. The deal, which looked like a lock a few weeks ago, has come under a cloud of uncertainty revolving around the eventual size of the stadium. Danny Corte, executive director of the Mobile Sports Authority, also told AL.com this week that the Ladd field needs to be replaced before games are played this fall.

If the Battle of Prichard is indeed played at Ladd, Vigor’s first home game at its new stadium would be the next week, Sept. 1, against B.C. Rain. The Wolves hosted McGill-Toolen in a spring game in May at the stadium.

Thought for the Week

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” – James 4:8

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]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.