Ronnie Cottrell is headed back home.

The 1977 T.R. Miller graduate was approved Tuesday night as the next head football coach of the Tigers. He replaces Hall of Famer Brent Hubbert, who announced his retirement in February.

“I’ve always had the desire to coach at T.R. Miller again, but the timing was not right,” he told AL.com. “I’ve thought about it many times. I’m overwhelmed this opportunity is available. I am coming home, and I hope I can help accomplish the school mission, which is to help these guys play together, represent our school and gain opportunities at the next level if that is their desire.”

T.R. Miller has won more games (738) than any other high school in Alabama history. The Tigers have won six state championships, the last coming in 2002 under Hall of Fame coach Jamie Riggs. Hubbert went 58-18 in six years at the school, including a 12-1 record in 2024.

“Guys like Jamie Riggs and Mike Sasser and Frank Cotten, Eddie Brundidge and Alan Baker were legends and examples to me,” Cottrell, 66, said. “There have been a lot of outstanding guys here that I was either able to play for or watch or even coach against. One of the reasons I’m most excited about this job is that I want to continue to build on what those guys and coach Hubbert and others have been able to do. They had an outstanding team last year, and I want to try to continue to progress with the program.”

T.R. Miller has missed the playoffs just once (2017) since 1983. Cottrell played for Cotten and also started his coaching career under him at the school. He left after one year as an assistant coach to become a student teacher at Troy.

“I respected him so much,” Cottrell said of Cotten. “He’s the reason that I’m coaching today. He was a coach that inspired you and taught you about the pride of playing at T.R. Miller.”

Cottrell is perhaps best known for his stints on the coaching staffs at Florida State and the University of Alabama. However, a large portion of his success has come on the high school level. In 24 years as a high school head coach, he owns an overall record of 176-99. He is 30-16 in the playoffs.

Cottrell led Godby, Fla., to a state championship in 2012 and Mobile Christian to a state title in 2023. He’s also coached at Kinston, Flomaton, W.S. Neal, Carroll, Alma Bryant and Chickasaw.

“I really hope I can make a difference here and be an influence for the students and players at this school,” Cottrell said. “It’s good to be back in a community that really loves this school. I always have believed that when you think of T.R. Miller, you think of Brewton, Ala., and when you think of Brewton, Ala., you think of T.R. Miller High School. The community and the school are outstanding. I look forward to being back in that environment.”

After leaving Mobile Christian following the 2023 season, Cottrell spent the last year starting a new program at Lighthouse Christian College, an independent school with the goal of eventually transitioning to NAIA. He led that team to an 8-1 record and the ICAA Gulf-Atlantic Championship.

“That’s really the only sad thing today,” Cottrell said. “I really felt like we had a phenomenal season last year. I was really proud of that, and I learned a lot about making a difference across the board with your athletes. I’m still always going to be supportive of that school and look forward to seeing what they do next year.”

Cottrell said his official start date at his new job will be April 15. The Tigers will once again compete in Class 3A, Region 1 against many opponents Cottrell is already familiar with from his time at Mobile Christian. The region includes Bayside Academy, Cottage Hill, Excel, Flomaton, Hillcrest-Evergreen and Monroe County.

“It’s a very difficult region,” he said. “Those teams come to play every week. I think it will be a benefit that I know who they are, but it will be tough as always.”

Cottrell said he hopes to finish his coaching career at T.R. Miller.