Tutt going out on top, steps down as Marengo Academy coach

The head Longhorn is calling it a career. Marengo Academy head football coach Webb Tutt formally announced Thursday that he is stepping down from the post he has held for the last 22 contests.

“It kind of just solidified my career. I came here and I didn’t really know the expectations. I remember asking (former Marengo Academy head coach Robby) James the first couple of days I was down here, ‘Coach, you’ve had some great teams. How are we going to be?’ He said, ‘We’ve got a chance to be pretty good.’ That first year and then the kids just fed off of that,” Tutt recalled of the 2013 team that won a state championship. “Then they got used to winning and got used to working hard and it was just a great run. For me, personally, it’s a good way to go out.”

A long-time business owner in Demopolis, Tutt served as a volunteer assistant coach under Tom Causey at Demopolis High School before heading to Marengo Academy as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2013. Tutt helped the team to a Class A state championship in his first season and led the defense that challenged Edgewood Academy in the Class AA state title game in 2014. Two games into the 2015 season, Tutt took over as head coach of a 1-1 Longhorns team in the wake of the departure of David Barham. Since that time, Tutt has guided the program to a 20-2 record.

“I think my time here, I’m going to remember it as being really, really special. Being around the kids. Of course, working with Coach James. When I left Demopolis helping Tom, I really thought my career was over,” Tutt, who coached his sons Williams and Robert during his time at MA, said. And then getting back into it and the relationships we formed here, and two sons coming here and both of them playing on championship teams, I think I’ll look back on that. It’s a special feeling walking off that field and hugging your kids after you’ve won a state title.”

The Longhorns narrowly lost to Edgewood in the Class AA state championship game in 2015 before going 11-1 and beating Chambers in the Class A title game in 2016.

“His involvement has meant everything. The boys look up to him. I think he’s just an inspiration to them. He will be greatly missed,” Marengo Academy headmaster Judy Etheredge said. “I know that he’s going to come back and he will help us. We welcome every bit of his help we can get. I think he’ll be here as a force for a while, maybe not in that same position as head coach. But he will be here and we will greatly appreciate all of his help that he’s going to give us.”

“Just getting back to running the business,” Tutt said of his focus going forward. “I’ll always probably be involved in some area down here. I really enjoy it. Just try to keep this school going and keep the athletic commercial going. Hopefully I’ll be involved in some capacity, just not as a coach.”

Tutt ends his head coaching career at 67-34 overall in nine seasons leading programs around West Alabama. He has also had coaching stops at Sumter Academy and West Alabama Prep.

There is no word yet on who Marengo Academy will name someone to fill the position.

“We’ve talked about it and I know that it will be soon because we will want someone in place. The spring is coming. We’ll want to get started for our coming year, so it will be soon.”