By Haley Mitchell Godwin

During a special called Crenshaw County Board of Education (CCBOE) meeting held March 9 at 7:30 a.m., Superintendent Dodd Hawthorne recommended Ed Rigby for hire as the new head football coach at Luverne High School (LHS). The board voted to approve Rigby, who will also serve as the school’s physical education teacher and athletic director.

Hawthorne said Rigsby comes to the school with an impressive record of success and has developed a reputation for his ability to bring out the best in his players. After a long and thorough search, Hawthorne said he is confident Rigsby is the right person for the job.

“I really believe Coach Rigsby is going to be a great addition to Luverne High School and their athletic program,” Hawthorne said. “He is not only a good football coach but he is a man of good character and we are very excited to bring him on board.”

Rigby comes to Luverne with what high school football experts would call an impressive coaching resume, having spent over 30 years in the coaching profession, including 23 years as a high school head coach. Rigby takes over for former coach Jason Rowell, who has moved on to head the football program at Citronelle High School.

Most recently, Rigby served as head coach for the Pike Road Patriots football program, leading the team to a 7-5 record in their first season in Class 6A. Before his time at Pike Road, Rigby spent four seasons as the head coach of tEufaula High School, leading the Tigers to four postseason appearances and a 28-18 record from 2018-2021.

Rigby’s coaching career began in Louisiana, where he served as an assistant coach at Independence High, Northwest Rankin High and Mendenhall High. He then moved on to become the head coach at Albany High School, where he led the team to a school record for wins in a season and a playoff berth. Rigby later coached the Loranger High School Wolves to an undefeated district championship and was named Class 2A Coach of the Year.

In the college ranks, Rigby served as an assistant coach at Tabor College, Holmes Community College, and Jackson State University before accepting the head coaching position at Pensacola’s Tabor High School. He then served as the offensive coordinator at Goshen High School in south Alabama before accepting the top job at Elba High School in 2013.

Rigby’s tenure at Elba was highlighted by back-to-back appearances in the AHSAA Super 7 Championships and a 2A state title in 2015. He left Elba with a 53-12 overall record, three region titles and a 31-2 mark in region play.

Currently, Rigby’s head coaching record in Alabama stands at 88-35 with 10 postseason appearances, three region crowns, and a state championship over 10 seasons. With such a successful coaching career, it’s no surprise that Luverne High School is thrilled to have him as their new head football coach.

The Luverne Tigers expect Rigby’s experience and success on the sidelines will translate into success on the field. Rigby’s track record of developing winning programs and building strong relationships with his players and coaches make him a great fit for the Luverne community according to LHS principal Michael Kilpatrick.

“There is a lot of excitement surrounding our new head football coach and athletic director,” Kilpatrick said. “Coach Rigby will be stepping into some big shoes in regards to all the great history and winning traditions we have here, but we definitely think that coach Rigby will be the next Tiger great here at Luverne High School.”