This is an opinion piece.

Whenever Terry Curtis retired as head football coach of UMS-Wright after a quarter of a century, it was going lead to a huge change at the Mobile private school.

Curtis won 284 games and 8 state titles in 26 years with a largely run-oriented offense and a stingy defense.

Enter Sam Williams, a 34-year-old Mississippi coaching prodigy, who is flipping the script at UMS to a more wide-open, offensive passing attack.

“It’s a lot different,” Williams said earlier this week during a 7-on-7 event at Saraland. “We are getting there. I’m one of those guys who wants it to be perfect right now, and we’ve only been doing it for three and a half months. I’m tickled with how far we’ve come. I know we have a long way to go, but I think if we keep progressing at the rate we are we are really going to be good at it when the season hits.”

One of the biggest questions – not just in Coastal Alabama – but in the state in general entering the 2025 high school season is centered around exactly what UMS will look like in the post-Curtis era. There are few holdovers from Curtis’ staff – UMS mainstay Gerald Jones being one of the exceptions — but that turnover wasn’t unexpected.

“It was all cordial,” Williams said. “I just said, ‘Guys, everyone has a job. If you want to stay, you’re good. If you want to go, no hard feelings. It’s going to be a lot different.’ Some people didn’t want to do that because things had been done a certain way around here forever. There is nothing wrong with that. It is just part of it. We have a great staff. I think we went from being one of the older staffs in the state to one of the younger staffs. I’m one of the elders, and I’m 34.”

Williams’ staff also includes veteran coach Phil Lazenby, who is returning to UMS after leading Bayside Academy for 16 years and Bayshore Christian for two.

“We had a lot of staff turnover, so that was tough early on,” Williams said. “But I’ve been really happy with getting a new staff in. We are continuing a great tradition and just doing it a little differently. I think it has gone really well. I think kids are buying in. We are learning how to compete and learning how to do it the way we are going to do it now.”

Williams, a former Mississippi State wide receiver, spent his entire coaching career up to this point in Mississippi. He has won everywhere he has been.

He went 27-11 in three years at Class 2A Pelahatchie (2017-2019), led 5A Ridgeland to the state semifinals and a 10-3 record in his only year there and had a 45-10 record in Brandon.

Williams has described his coaching philosophy and schemes as “borderline, over-the-top, super aggressive” on offense and defense.

“We will be fast paced, high tempo,” he said at his introductory press conference in March. “People come to our games. I preach attacking football, family atmosphere, playing for your brother. I think that is real apparent when you see my teams play.”

He said when he took the job at UMS, he was leaving a talent-filled Brandon roster that included multiple future Power 4 players. He won’t necessarily have that in Mobile. UMS has won and won big over the years with hard-nosed, smart football players who react well to coaching.

Williams is confident his approach will work, and others are as well. Recently, Rivals named him as one of five new coaches nationwide expected to make a big impact on their program.

“I understand we are not going to be as big, fast and strong as some people but we know what we have to do to win,” he said. “Let’s not make excuses. Let’s get out every day and compete and be the best versions of ourselves we can be.”

UMS opens the season against rival St. Paul’s at home on Aug. 22.

State champion coach switching roles

Veteran Alabama coach Vince DiLorenzo has stepped down as head coach at Coosa Valley but will remain at the school as an assistant coach.

In an unusual switch, Coosa announced this week that assistant Reece Donahoo would become the head coach with DiLorenzo helping him as the assistant. Andrew Simonson of the Shelby County Reporter announced the news this week.

DiLorenzo spent two stints at Coosa Valley as head coach, leading the team to an AISA state title in 2010 and returning in 2021 for four more years. He also was Spain Park’s first head coach from 2002-2005 and spent 17 years at Gadsden High from 1984-2000 where he won 127 games and a pair of state titles.

DiLorenzo’s 1991 Class 5A state championship team was the first championship team I covered. Those Tigers, with offensive coordinator Mike Argo and defensive coordinator Charles Nails, went 14-0 and beat Blount 20-7 at Prichard Stadium in the state championship game. Almost every time I pass by that Stadium on I-65 now that I live on the Gulf Coast, I think about that game and that night.

Coach Di and I became fast friends that year, and I learned a lot about being a journalist from that staff and that team. DiLorenzo has won 190 games in 31 years as a head coach.

Daphne coach honored

Daphne High head football coach Kenny King was honored this week as a “Coach of Character” by Positive Athlete, a program that celebrates high character students and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities or have an infectious positive attitude to be around.

King was recognized as one of the Southeast Regional Winners. The organization described King this way on social media:

“Kenny King leads by example, attending games weekly to personally connect with every student-athlete from elementary through high school while implementing programs like free ACT prep to ensure their success beyond sports. His visionary leadership has secured $35-plus million in facility upgrades and created assessment programs that bridge academic and athletic excellence, proving that his genuine care for students drives transformational change through the entire Daphne community.”

King, a Daphne graduate and former Alabama and NFL standout, is entering his 10th season as the head coach of his alma mater. He also served as the school’s athletic director until Baldwin County recently decided to separate the head football coach and AD roles at each of its schools. King is 59-39 with the Trojans.

New coach at Faith Academy

Faith Academy has announced the hire of Christian Shelter as its new girls basketball coach.

According to a school release, “Coach Shelter brings a wealth of experience and a strong foundation of character to our athletic program. With multiple years of coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels, over three years of personal training experience, and five years of playing professional basketball internationally with FIBA teams, she offers a dynamic blend of leadership, athletic knowledge, and mentorship.”

Thought for the Week

“When God selects you, it doesn’t matter who rejects you.”

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected].