Source: Central’s head coach candidate has family ties to Auburn’s football team
Central High is close to hiring a head football coach.
Patrick Nix, former Auburn quarterback and father of current Tigers starter Bo Nix, is being considered for the head coaching job at Central, a source tells the Ledger-Enquirer.
The Phenix City Board of Education is holding an “emergency” meeting concerning a personnel matter at 5 p.m. EST, with a press conference to take place at Central’s football expansion facility to follow at 6 p.m. PCBOE Superintendent Randy Wilkes would not confirm nor deny the purpose of the meeting beyond it being related to personnel.
Nix met with his team around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to break the news, according to the Trussville Tribune.
Central athletic director Bobby Wright told the Ledger-Enquirer Tuesday that the new coach will be introduced at the previously announced press conference. Wilkes did not return phone calls, and Central principal Tommy Vickers said he could not comment until after Tuesday night’s board meeting.
Patrick played high school football at Etowah High School. At Auburn, he played under head coach Terry Bowden, offensive coordinator Tommy Bowden and quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher, who currently coaches at Texas A&M.
Patrick previously coached at Pinson Valley, where he coached his son. His previous coaching stops include Charleston Southern, Miami and Georgia Tech.
Wilkes said Monday that it is “public knowledge” that Central has an opening. A hire must be made as an educator first, then the school would appoint him or her as the head football coach.
The position was vacated by Jamey DuBose on Jan. 7. He has since been hired as head football coach at Lowndes High in Valdosta.
This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 11:19 AM.
