Jacy Todd, the inspirational coach who returned to the sidelines after a near fatal car accident in 2012, has been hired to lead the Bayshore Christian football program in Baldwin County.

Todd replaces Hall of Famer Phil Lazenby, who started Bayshore’s program from scratch two years ago. Lazenby stepped down earlier this month after leading the Eagles through the school’s first varsity season.

The 43-year-old Todd retired from public school coaching in 2022. He spent his last stop at Baker High School where he was defensive coordinator.

“I’m looking forward to a great opportunity, working with a school that is Christ-centered,” Todd told AL.com. “When I retired, I certainly had no ambitions of getting back into coaching. But, with this school and what it represents and with these young men, it’s a great opportunity to not only coach football but to hopefully help these young men develop in Christ.”

Todd served as an assistant coach for Lazenby during the 2023 season when the Eagles competed in a modified junior varsity schedule. In 2024, he coached the middle school program, leading a group of 18 players to a 7-1 record.

“Jacy loves the Lord, and I believe that he is the right fit for our program,” Bayshore athletic director Jeff Hauge said. “He wants our players to have a great experience, and he wants to point our kids to Christ daily. He already knows our culture and what we stand for and that’s a big plus when it comes to hiring the next coach. He has been involved in our program since the beginning and has already built a great relationship with our players, coaches and parents.”

On Aug. 1, 2012, Todd was an assistant coach at Daphne High School when he was thrown from his vehicle during a car accident on Alabama 181 across from the Eastern Shore Center in Baldwin County. He was paralyzed from the chest down.

Todd spent nearly a month fighting for his life at the University of South Alabama Medical Center and three more months fighting to regain mobility at Shepherd Center for spinal injuries in Atlanta. Yet, he still calls the accident one of the best things that has ever happened to him.

“It helped me understand that your faith is first and foremost and then your family after that,” he told AL.com when he retired from Baker. “We, as coaches, spend so many hours at the field house, trying to game plan and put kids in position to be successful. Sometimes you can get consumed by that. The accident helped me prioritize that. It obviously gives you great perspective when everything is taken from you.

“You see what is most important in life.”

Todd returned to teaching at Daphne the next January following his accident and was back on the sidelines for the Trojans the next fall. In addition to his time working under Glenn Vickery at Daphne and his time at Baker, Todd also has served as defensive coordinator at Fairhope, Auburn High and Northridge.

He takes over a team that went 3-6 under Lazenby in Year 1 competing in Class 2A, Region 1. While the Eagles have been successful in other sports – including a pair of state baseball championships – Todd will have challenges in football. Those include limited facilities and growing the roster.

“I think we build it by creating excitement within the school and also creating an opportunity these young men are going to benefit from,” he said. “I think our biggest goal has to be to offer an opportunity for these young men to grow physically and mentally and in their relationship with Christ and also let football be a pathway to show they can be successful on the field and off the field.

“Building this program is going to be one step at a time and I think laying a good foundation is the most important thing. Coach Lazenby did a great job starting the program. We have some challenges. We can sit around and talk about the things we don’t have, but that is not going to make any difference. The only thing that will make a difference is using what we do have and realizing those assets to build the best program we can possibly build.”