MADISON- The first thing Bob Godsey did upon his arrival on the campus of Madison Academy High as new head football coach was put on a maroon and gray colored wind-breaker jacket. He wanted to quickly feel what so many did before him- a winning tradition.

Godsey recently became the 13^th head coach in the history of the private school, which opened in 1963. He arrived from Hartselle High where he was head football coach for 16 seasons piling up an impressive record 141-51 including the 2011 Class 5A State Championship with a perfect 15-0 season. He took the position at Madison Academy that was vacated when Grant Reynolds took a new job in Chattanooga, Tenn. after three seasons with the Mustangs.

“Coach Reynolds did a great job here at Madison Academy both on and off the field,” said Mark Mincher, athletic director for the Mustangs. “We certainly understand the need for him to get back to the Chattanooga area around family. We wish him and his family the best.”

Under Reynolds, the Mustangs were 28-10 with a 5-3 playoff record and a state runner-up losing to Handley in the Class 4A championships game in 2016. Reynolds came into the program after the previous head coach, Eric Cohu, won three consecutive state titles 2012-2014.

With the success of the two most recent coaches leading the Mustangs, a winning tradition has been set and Godsey looks to the challenge of a continuation of the winning ways for the Mustangs.

“I’m well aware of the tradition and the challenges to do so at a higher level and I embrace the challenge that is presented to me,” said Godsey. “I like to teach the players more than just football. They can take with them the experiences of a great high school career, as the trophies will remain at Madison Academy.”

As a quarterback at Wilson High in the Florence area, Godsey went on to play for the Trojans of Troy State from 1986-1989. He first became a head coach in 1998 at nearby Brooks High before moving to a similar position at Hartselle. Wherever he has coached Godsey has utilized the three main items in his coaching philosophy-

Doing Right- on the field, in the classroom and in the community

Great Effort- having great ethics and control of how you put forth your best effort

Doing It For Someone Else- having a team effort and making sure others come first

“I’m excited about the opportunity to coach at such a great school with even greater tradition,” said Godsey. “I have a good retirement from the public school system and to land a job like Madison Academy is a win-win. I’m blessed beyond what I deserve.”

“We received many resumes from coaches from across the Southeast and we narrowed the list and interviewed the top candidates that we felt would be the best fit for Madison Academy,” added Mincher.

Godsey met with the players of the football program just to make sure everyone understood the direction the program was headed under his leadership. Godsey will direct spring practice and utilize as many of the athletes as possible as many of the football players also play baseball and track.

The spring drills will come to a close with a spring game in Albertville on May 18. Godsey said he’ll formulate a spring practice schedule to correspond with the 10 allowable days set by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.