Madison Board approves new James Clemens football coach

Madison Waldrop. (CONTRIBUTED)

By Aldo Amato

 Staff Reporter

MADISON – James Clemens High School welcomed news that their new head football coach was approved by The Madison City Board of Education on Thursday, February 21.

Madison “Wade” Waldrop was approved by the board to take over at James Clemens and was welcomed with open arms by school officials at the high school and Madison Mayor Troy Trulock.

Waldrop said that he is extremely grateful and excited to be the second head football coach in James Clemens’ short history.

“I am absolutely excited and grateful that Dr. Dee Fowler and Dr. Brian Clayton gave me this opportunity,” he said. “It is very exciting for me and my family.”

Waldrup said that his wife Kimberly is excited about the move as well.

“She is very excited because we are moving from a great place to raise a family to another great place to raise one,” he said.

Waldrop comes from Chelsea High School in Shelby County where he has been head football coach and athletic director since 2006. He worked in other coaching and teaching positions since at Chelsea since 2003 including freshman and varsity boy’s basketball coach.

He replaces Bill Stewart who left for a position in Georgia in January of this year.

“As far as the team, I am really excited to be able to be a part of a foundation that was laid before me,” Waldrop said. “I think my first goal is to try to build relationships within the community and I think is the most important thing to have long term success.”

A graduate of Hartselle High School, Waldrop earned a bachelors degree in history and a master’s degree in education from UAB and has held numerous teaching and athletic jobs.

Waldrop said that he was impressed with the team already and looks forward to starting on March 1.
“I got to meet the staff and team already,” he said. “They all made me feel welcome and they are all working very hard already.”