Central head football coach leaving Red Devils program. His departure is a ‘shock,’ AD says
Central football coach Jamey DuBose has coached his final game for the Red Devils.
DuBose announced his retirement from the state of Alabama during a team meeting Tuesday morning, according to Phenix City Schools superintendent Randy Wilkes. DuBose will reportedly accept a head football coaching position outside of the state in the near future, according to Wilkes.
“Phenix City Schools appreciates Coach DuBose’s commitment to excellence both on and off the playing field, noting the significant amount of emphasis DuBose placed on character, grade point averages, and ACT scores,” Wilkes said in a release. “... Phenix City Schools wishes Coach DuBose the very best in his new endeavor.“
‘This came as a surprise’
Central Athletic Director Bobby Wright could not provide a timetable on the search for a replacement, saying the administration has not “had the time to think about it.”
Wright said he was not told about DuBose’s departure before the announcement. He count not say if DuBose’s retirement if effective immediately, or if the coach will remain at the school until his new job is announced.
Wright had not had the chance to talk to DuBose prior to speaking with the L-E.
“This came as a surprise,” Wright said. “It’s kind of shocking, to tell you the truth. So fast. But we’ve got to regather ourselves and think about what the next step is going to be. Right now, we’re still in the shock phase.”
Wright did say that, with a coach of DuBose’s caliber, sudden coaching moves are not unusual.
“That’s just the business that we’re in,” Wright said. “Coaches come and go, and the good ones, you’re awfully fortunate to keep them a long time.”
‘A great coach’
In six years as Central High School’s head football coach, DuBose led the Red Devils to one state championship, one state runner-up, two final-four appearances, six consecutive regional championships and compiled a record of 66-11. The Red Devils have made the Alabama 7A state championship in back-to-back seasons.
DuBose coached several high-profile recruits at Central, notably Clemson receiver Justyn Ross, LSU quarterback Peter Parrish, Arkansas running back A’Montae Spivey and Clemson safety Ray Thornton.
Last year’s Central signing class consisted of 20 student-athletes, and this year’s early signing period class consisted of seven players, notably Alabama offensive lineman signee Javion Cohen, Clemson receiver signee E.J. Williams and Kentucky offensive lineman signee Joshua Jones.
“Coach Dubose is a great coach and helped me prepare a lot for college,” Ross said Monday during a Clemson media availability. “In my opinion, he should be a college-level coach because that is how he prepares his players. And you can tell by all the players he puts in college.”
On Monday afternoon, seniors Cohen and P.J. Ramsey walked into a conference room tucked behind Central’s front office dressed in college team attire. Cohen wears a Nike Alabama hat, while Ramsey sports an Air Force Academy top. The two will join the respective programs upon graduation, and attribute much of their on-field success to DuBose, the “process” he instilled upon his arrival and his college-esque coaching philosophy.
The attitude DuBose brought became apparent early. He inherited a team that had just gone 6-4 (4-3 in the region) and missed the playoffs. He wanted to run his program like a college and have features that college programs have, like the indoor practice facility.
Everything DuBose did, Cohen said, prepared his players for life at a major college program.
He changed “everything,” Ramsey said. When it was time for workouts, Central’s players knew it was time to “lock in.” If they came to practice, they came to get better. No slacking.
“When you’re getting recruited and coaches know your coach and his stature, and everything that he does with his program, it helps a lot,” Cohen said. “They already know that you’re disciplined, you’re a proven winner and, to play under DuBose, you’ve got to have some grit, too.”
After learning of the news, Cohen texted his former coach “thank you for everything you’ve done for me in setting my future up, and I love you.” Cohen said DuBose responded instantly, saying “I love you too, and if there’s anything you ever need for me, I’m here for you.”
Neither player was mad at the news of DuBose’s departure. Neither were in the locker room when the news was announced, as both are still attending classes at Central as seniors and are no longer with the team. But the two made it clear that they only wish him the best.
“We know that he’s one of the greatest coaches to come through ‘bama,” Ramsey said. “He’s never done any of us wrong. He’s a truthful person. ... None of us have ill will towards him. ... We were all happy for him.”
Joining the Red Devils
DuBose was unveiled as the new man in charge of Central’s football program at a board meeting in the school’s auditorium on May 27, 2014. He previously coached at Prattville, Florence and, for a few months, Charles Henderson.
At Prattville, DuBose won two state championships as an assistant and two as a head coach. He took over for Bill Clark in 2008, leading a team coming off of 56 straight victories and back-to-back state titles to a 13-1 record and another championship. It lost in the title game in 2009, in the second round in 2010 and won another title in 2011.
Overall, he was 42-13 at Prattville with three losses coming via forfeit for AHSAA rules violations.
DuBose was only the Red Devils’ fourth head coach in the past 47 years. Wayne Trawick coached from 1973-97, Ron Nelson from 98-2009 and Lowe from 2010-13.
“I’m a Red Devil in and out,” Central receivers coach Zack Berklin said. “What I can say is, he’s the best thing that our program needed. I can tell you from the bottom of my heart. ... He brought the college atmosphere that our players needed to our program. Records and stats and everything show for it.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 9:24 AM.
