Saraland head football coach named head coach in Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Saraland head football coach Jeff Kelly will serve as the Alabama head coach in the 38th Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic next December, the Alabama High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday.

The Alabama All-Stars have won four straight games against the Mississippi All-Stars, according to an AHSAA news release.

Kelly has both coached and played in the game for Alabama with a 2-0 combined record over Mississippi. He was the offensive coordinator in the 2023 All-Star Classic, which Alabama won 31-28. As a quarterback in 1996, he threw a touchdown in Alabama’s 17-14 win over Mississippi.

“I played in the Alabama-Mississippi Game as a player; I coached last year as an assistant coach, and it is a very huge honor to be the head coach in this game,” Kelly said. “I am excited about our staff. We have some really outstanding coaches. Last year I came straight to this game after the Super 7 finals. You have to be able to shift gears, but it doesn’t take you long when you see how important this game is to the players and coaches in this state. I am looking forward to the game already.”

Kelly has coached the Saraland Spartans to two straight state championship games, falling just short of capturing back-to-back titles in Tuscaloosa last season against Clay-Chalkville .

The Spartans have been a top program across the state of Alabama with several players developing and getting opportunities at the collegiate level.

“Coach Kelly has proven to be one of the AHSAA’s finest head coaches,” Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association Director Dean said. “And he has put together an outstanding all-star coaching staff as well that includes four coaches that won state titles last season, two coaches who played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and one coach who has 351 career coaching wins to his credit.”

Kelly’s staff has also been finalized for this year’s All-Star Classic.

• Fyffe High School head coach Paul Benefield, defensive line coach
• McGill-Toolen head coach David Faulkner, offensive coordinator
• Leroy head coach Jason Massey, linebackers coach
• Hoover head coach Drew Gilmer, defensive backs coach
• Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa head coach Jamie Mitchell, offensive line coach
• Eufaula head coach Jerrel Jernigan, wide receivers coach
• Saraland assistant coach Matt Dearmon, scout coach

Benefield holds a 351-56 record across 32 seasons, and the rest of the coaching staff has a combined 513-110 record.

Players will be selected in the fall for the all-star game, which will be held at Hancock Whitney Stadium in December.

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