Vigor football coach Kerry Stevenson steps down, expected to land job at Alabama
Vigor football coach Kerry Stevenson has resigned his position at the school.
Mobile County school system spokeswoman Nancy Pierce confirmed Stevenson's resignation early this afternoon.
Sources have told AL.com that Stevenson is likely to land a job on the University of Alabama's support staff.
Stevenson declined comment today. The University of Alabama has had no response to specific inquiries about Stevenson's potential hire.
Vigor principal Kenneth Edwards said "the writing appears to be on the wall" but also would not comment officially on Stevenson's status.
"The coach is here at school today," he said. "I know that."
Edwards did say he had received a lot of resumes in the last few weeks as rumors have circulated about Stevenson's possible departure.
"My phone messages are full, my desk is full of priority mail with resumes," he said. "But I'm not talking to anyone about any position until the Board lets me know I definitely have a vacancy to fill."
Stevenson appears poised to become the second Mobile area high school coach in the last two years to join Nick Saban's staff. Blount coach Kelvin Sigler left the high school ranks to accept a position at Alabama last year.
Stevenson's departure will leave a major hole to fill.
In 10 years at Vigor, Stevenson had an 85-40 overall record. His 2008 team went 15-0 and won the Class 5A state title and his 2011 team went 12-3, losing in the championship game.
He won at least eight games in each of the last five seasons and eight of his 10 overall.
Stevenson's only losing seasons were 5-6 in 2006 and 4-5 in 2005. He has a 19-8 playoff record at Vigor, leading the Wolves to the postseason every year except 2005.
This year's team went 8-4, losing in the second round of the playoffs to Briarwood Christian.
"Kerry has been a great coach for us," Edwards said. "He won a championship for us and took us to another final. He's been good for athletics around here, no question about that. If I do have to look for someone, I'm going to look for someone who has continued what he has started here both academically and athletically."
Stevenson also has produced a number of Football Bowl Subdivision signees including Jalston Fowler (Alabama), Marvin Shinn (Alabama), B.J. Scott (Alabama and South Alabama) and Darius Philon (Arkansas).
He has more than earned the respect of many of his Mobile-area colleagues.
"I think Kerry has done a remarkable job at Vigor," St. Paul's coach Steve Mask said. "His kids are always well-disciplined, play extremely hard on the football field and play with a lot of class.
"I also think his presence in the community has been unbelievable. He's afforded a lot of kids the opportunity to go on to college and continue their careers. He has given great guidance to those kids over there. He'll be missed."
UMS-Wright veteran coach Terry Curtis also said he's been impressed with what Stevenson has accomplished at Vigor.
"He came in and did a great job with organizing that program over there," Curtis said. "He's had some long odds to work with because he's had to deal with a lot of volunteer coaches. What Kerry has done is put discipline and respect in the program, and that is the first thing you have to do to win."
Ben Thomas covers Mobile high school sports for The Alabama Media Group and The Mobile Press-Register. Write to him at bthomas@al.com.
