Luker resigns from Demopolis High School
Stacy Luker announced his intention to resign Monday, stepping down as head football coach of Demopolis High School after two seasons.
“I just felt kind of like it was time to move on. I no longer felt like I was the right fit at Demopolis High School for their football team,” Luker said. “I felt like I kind of needed to give them the chance to find the right guy to lead their program. I feel like I needed to step out of the way.”
“I’m going to post the position. I just put it on the Alabama High School Athletic Association site and then we’ll post it formally on our site as well,” Demopolis Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff said. “Demopolis is a place with rich history for football coaches. I feel very confident that when the news is out, I’m going to be contacted by a number of coaches who want to head this way.”
The Tigers went 17-7 under Luker, finishing 7-4 this season and falling to Lincoln in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. The Tigers were 10-3 with a quarterfinal round playoff appearance in 2015, Luker’s first year with the program.
Luker sits at 194-78 in his career, including a 6-5 season in 2014 at Neshoba Central. A native of Sweet Water, Luker gained statewide notoriety at his alma mater where he coached from 2002 through 2013, compiling a 131-32 record and winning five Class 1A state championships.
“I think, right now, I still hope to coach. I hope to find the right place to do that,” Luker, who emphasized that he does not have another coaching job lined up, said.
Luker, who started his head coaching career at Washington County in 1995 before moving to Thomasville in 1997, had the opportunity to coach with his eldest son Drew for the last two seasons at Demopolis. He worked on staff with his youngest son, Linc, this season.
“I’m a family man, so it was very special. That’s what I told the kids. It’s why I felt so convinced that this was the right timing and the right thing to do,” Luker said. “I’m leaving family. I had a lot invested right there in that football program. I’m leaving my family. They had to know that I had strong feelings that I’m doing the right thing. I learned a lot from all my coaches. I learned a lot from him, and I hope he learned from me over the last two years.”
The resignation comes just one week after Demopolis High School Principal Chris Tangle announced he would be stepping down at the end of the semester.
Kallhoff indicated the football coaching position as well as the high school principal job are high priorities for the school system.
“We’re going to look for a proven leader on and off the field who models integrity, strong morals, and the desire to be the best,” Kallhoff said.
The search process will involve a committee, but the final say in the hire will belong to Kallhoff.
“I will use a committee to a certain point. When I’ve done this in the past and I’ve had several applications, I will use a committee to help me narrow down the bulk of the applications,” Kallhoff said. “I might include the committee on the interviews, but the recommendation will be my recommendation.”