Hoover football coach Drew Gilmer, who was recently placed on administrative leave along with defensive coordinator Adam Helms, has a long athletic history.

He’s the nephew of former Alabama quarterback great and NFL star Harry Gilmer, who played at Woodlawn High School and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Before beginning his coaching career, Drew Gilmer was a four-year starter for Pinson Valley under Wayne Lee, playing quarterback and safety. After graduating high school in 2003, Gilmer played baseball for Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City then finished his degree at Alabama.

Gilmer worked one year as a volunteer coach at his high school alma mater under Lee then became an assistant coach for Pinson Valley where he stayed until taking a job as an assistant coach at Clay-Chalkville in 2010 under Jerry Hood, currently the Leeds head coach. Gilmer coached several positions during his seven years as an assistant at Clay-Chalkville, including quarterbacks, receivers, defensive backs and linebackers.

He was hired to replace Hood as head coach in 2017, posting an 81-12 record in seven seasons and winning two of the past three Class 6A state championships. His 2023 team upset top-ranked Saraland and finished 14-0.

Hoover hired Gilmer in January to replace Wade Waldrop.

Gilmer and Helms were placed on administrative leave announced in a release by Hoover City Schools superintendent Kevin Maddox on Tuesday. A social media video appears to show problematic behavior by Hoover coaches during practice.

Chip English is the interim coach.

In a recent AL.com feature, junior Jonah Winston described the new atmosphere around Hoover football.

“The mentality and the way we come in to work every day is different,” Winston said. “The coaches are on us even when we’re having good days. The accountability coaches have with us and we have for ourselves is really different with a different energy and vibe.”

Players reacted to the situation on social media.