What’s it Like to Transition Coaches in 2020?
How does a team deal with so much change? Not only is there a brand new coach, but also a season that is so different from usual because of the pandemic. Central-Phenix City Red Devils are doing well this season regardless of all of the change. When former head coach Jamey Dubose chose to leave Phenix City to pursue the head coaching position at Lowndes in Georgia, the Red Devils knew they would have to fight to stay at the level that they worked so hard to get to. In the midst of this crazy 2020 high school football season, it has been a time of transition for one of the top programs in the state.
Jamey Dubose was the head coach for the Red Devils from 2014 to 2019, and led Central-Phenix City in 2018 to its first 7A state championship since 1993. Coming to Phenix City in 2014, Dubose inherited a program that was on the rise, with expectations of taking the Red Devils to the next level. He eventually turned Central into a powerhouse. Central would go on to win 66 games in 6 seasons, while also winning 6 straight 7A Region 2 titles and making it to 3 straight 7A semifinals before finally breaking through in 2018. Dubose went on to set the program up for success for many years to come. Dubose is currently in his first season as the head football coach at Lowndes in Georgia.
The current head coach of the Red Devils, Patrick Nix, was the former head coach at Pinson Valley High School where he led the Indians to back to back state championships in 2017 and 2018 with his son Bo at quarterback. When Bo committed to Auburn to play for the Tigers, Patrick decided to accept the job at Central-Phenix City to be closer to his son. Nix inherited a talented team much like Dubose, and has not disappointed in his first season in Phenix City leading the Red Devils to the playoffs, and a 6-3 record in his first year at the helm. Nix has the program set up to succeed in the coming years, and to eventually return to the top of the Alabama 7A high school football mountain.
The Red Devils next game will be next Friday night, October 30 as they travel to Oxford for the regular season finale to take on one of the top 6A teams in Alabama. The Red Devils will play in the first round of Alabama 7A playoffs in the coming weeks.
Written by: Matt Melton
