Kelvis White, Dothan High
Dothan Eagle Super 12 Coach of the Year
Background: A former University of Alabama defensive lineman and son of legendary Courtland coach Lewis White, White was in his second year as head coach at Dothan.
The Numbers: Guided Dothan from a 1-9 team to 7-4 this year, the biggest turnaround in the Wiregrass. The Tigers also reached the state playoffs for the first time since 2001.
On being named coach of year: It is an honor, but it’s a team effort. We had a great team and the seniors led us in the right direction. I am also surrounded by great coaches — knowledge coaches. Everything fell in place for us to make the playoffs and have a winning season.
On preseason expectations: We as a coaching staff realistically felt we could make the playoffs. We were looking at the third and fourth seeds (from Class 6A, Region 3), mostly the fourth seed. Last year, we won only one game, but we lost five games by four or less points, so we were a couple of plays from a winning season. The kids worked hard and guys like Brandon (Knight), McKinley (Greer), Jay (LeGrand), Corey (Lampley), Orlando (Maestats) and some of the other seniors were being great leaders, so we felt we had a shot at making the playoffs.
On keys to the team: We had a lot of leadership and work ethic. The guys worked hard this spring and summer and did everything we asked them to do. When a lot of kids were playing video games, our guys were working hard — working out in the weight room, running out in the hot sun, playing in 7-on-7 camps. Also, it being year two in the program with us, things were easier for them as they knew what to expect.
Characterizing the team: We had a great kids. We didn’t have any discipline problems. They were good kids and coachable kids. When we won, they never got the big head and when we lost, they never got down. They were level-headed kids. They did a good job of turning the corner for Dothan High and I thank them for that.
On key point of season: We came out strong out of the gates against Eufaula then Auburn brought us back to reality — they had a very good team. Then came the Opelika game. When we were down (41-30 with less two minutes to go), the kids didn’t quit. We fought there it at the end (rallying for 45-41 win with two scores in last 1:10) and from that point, the kids realized they could compete with anybody on our schedule.
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