Former Hoover coach Wade Waldrop is headed South.

Waldrop as named the new head coach at Orange Beach High School last week. He is just the school’s third head coach following Chase Smith and Jamey DuBose.

In an interview on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile last week, Waldrop talked about what is bringing him to the Gulf Coast, the lessons he’s learned at his previous stops and what it will take to get the Makos into championship contention.

What attracted you to the job in Orange Beach?

“It’s a family atmosphere. It’s a destination town. It’s a place that’s been near and dear to our family’s heart for years. We’ve always said if an opportunity ever arose to coach football and do what we do as educators in a place like that, we would be all about it. I’m blessed to have that opportunity and looking forward to it.”

What are your first moves taking over a young program like Orange Beach? You were in a little bit of a similar situation when you took over at James Clemens.

“There are a lot of similarities. Build tradition, build culture and establishing those things from the ground up. The most rewarding and the most challenging thing I’ve ever done professionally was the job at James Clemens. It was such a great time to get into a school when there is not that 40, 50 years of tradition of how we’ve always done things. You have more of a chance to do things maybe a different way and everyone is usually on board because there aren’t a lot of traditions. It became a strength there. I’m looking forward to trying to do that again in a smaller community, an exciting place, a family friendly community. It felt like a really good fit.”

You’ve been at a lot of larger schools lately – James Clemens, Hoover, Florence. What are the differences you will have to get used to in being at a little smaller school?

“I’ll have to organize things differently. I started my career at a 1A school back in Talladega County in 2001. I was fortunate to leave that school in Fayetteville and then go up to Chelsea where we transitioned from 4A to 5A to 6A during my time there. It’s football so it will still come down to the fundamental things you have to do to be successful on any level. From an organizational standpoint, making sure your team is prepared with two-way players. I think Orange Beach finished with 62 players this past year. My year at Florence we were hovering right 65 so there were things we did there that were maybe not the way we did them in Madison and definitely not the way we did them in Hoover, but I think that is part of the job — figuring out what you have to do to prepare your kids for each and every Friday night.”

How big were the new facilities Orange Beach is building in your decision to take the job?

“It’s exciting. That is like a cherry on top of the ice cream. Even beyond the facilities that are coming, being in a community that size for me and our family at this point is a big draw. The size of the community itself reminds me of Chelsea when I got there in 2003. The setup is different. The infrastructure is different. It’s on another level. You have complete support from the Board of Education and the city itself, the mayor, the vision they have for the town itself, what they want to become, what they want to be great at. The ability to be a part of that and unify something in one vision is very exciting.”

How big is the idea these days to be a part of a one-school system and not a bigger county or city system?

“I think it’s huge. I got to experience that in Florence. The leaders there, that experience was really good. I’ve been in a two-horse down in Madison and signed up again for it in Hoover. For all the things they can provide when it comes down to making decisions about academics, art, athletics whatever, in a one-horse town those decisions typically can be made without having to take the opinion of the other side of town. You get to really do what you feel is best for the people in that one community. It’s a no brainer. You want your kids to be a part of a school system like that.”

What did you take away from your two years at Hoover?

“Some amazing people. You think about a school with 3,000 kids. The diversity. The background, the level of academics going on in that building and to see a building like that run and see how it operates on a different level, the amount of people there and the passion and the pride – amazing place. Everyone has an opinion from the outside of what they think Hoover is or Hoover was. I was one of those that had that same opinion not being on the inside but gosh it’s an amazing place. Some unbelievable teachers and coaches there. I learned a lot from being there. In my 23rd year of education, you see things being done at a different way at a different level. Super grateful to be a part of it.”

What needs to happen to contend for state championships at Orange Beach?

“It’s about relationships. In order for relationships to work and be successful you have to be on the same page. You have to have the same vision. I’m looking forward to plugging in and being a part of this school and this town.”

What will see Xs and Os wise from a Wade Waldrop team?

“I would be naïve to say we were going to do A, B or C without seeing our players and getting to know our players. In order to be successful at any level, you have to control the line of scrimmage. If you go back and watch all the state championship games – with all the big time athletes – still the teams that can run the football, the teams that can stop the run, won the state championship. Those are keys. What traits do you want to have? I guess it’s coach speak but you want to be able to block better, get off the blocks and tackle people. If you can do those consistently, you are going to have a chance.”