Terry Curtis is expected to announce at a press conference Tuesday morning that he is retiring as UMS-Wright’s head football coach, sources have told AL.com.

The Hall of Famer, who is second in AHSAA history with 361 victories, has been coach at the school for 26 seasons. The press conference is expected to be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the school.

Curtis did not immediately return phone messages from AL.com. Head of school Doug Barber could only confirm there would be a press conference Tuesday morning.

Curtis has been the head coach at the Mobile school since 1999 and is also currently the President of the AHSAA’s Central Board.

Curtis has won 284 games and eight state championships in 26 years at UMS. The 74-year-old also was the head coach at Shaw for four years and his alma mater, Murphy, for six before taking over at UMS-Wright.

In 36 years as a head coach, he will finish with a record of 361-105. He is two victories behind Central-Clay County’s Danny Horn as the AHSAA’s all-time wins leader. He has a playoff record of 84-25, including a 77-18 mark while coaching the Bulldogs.

His state championships came in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019. His UMS teams reached at least the quarterfinals in 23 of his 26 years as head coach and made the playoffs every year.

His final UMS team in 2024 went 6-7, again making a run to the Class 5A quarterfinals.

“It’s emotional,” Theodore head coach and close friend Steve Mask said of Curtis’ decision. “A guy of his stature and what he’s meant to me personally and professionally … it’s just sad for me. He’s always been there for me through some tough times. I’m very happy for he and his wife and what he has done for high school football and athletics in the state. Legend.”

Curtis has had a total of four losing seasons in his 36 years as head coach. He went 3-7 in his first year at Shaw in 1989, 5-6 in his first year at Murphy in 1993 and 6-7 in 2007 at UMS in a year the Bulldogs still reached the quarterfinals. UMS was also 6-7 last season.

His teams have missed the postseason just three times overall – 1989 and 1990 at Shaw and 1998 at Murphy.

“He does everything the right way,” Auburn High coach Keith Etheredge told AL.com about Curtis for a 2022 story. “He’s not scared to sit down and talk with younger coaches and help them along the way. Some older coaches don’t want to do that. He’s just a good guy. Every time I’ve ever called him, he’s been helpful to me.”

Curtis was a three-sport star at Murphy before playing baseball at Auburn University. He returned to Mobile as an assistant football and junior varsity basketball coach at B.C. Rain. He spent nine years as an assistant coach at Murphy before taking over the program at the now defunct Shaw High.

This post will be updated