New Pinson Valley head football coach James Thompson was in the market for an offensive coordinator. He had an idea about who he wanted, but wasn’t sure he could convince his first choice to leave his post for a new opportunity.

He did have a couple of factors that he thought would work in his favor. Thompson had worked with the coach before, and his target grew up in Ensley and graduated from Jackson-Olin High School. After a visit in June, Grady Griffin left his head coaching position at Aliceville and joined the Indians’ staff.