​A new high school football season in the Montgomery area is approaching, and the 2026 campaign will feature several new faces on the sidelines for their respective programs. In the offseason, several Montgomery-area teams brought in new head coaches, and the Montgomery Advertiser is inviting readers to weigh in on which new hire they believe will achieve the most victories in the 2026 season.
One notable departure was first-year head coach Jonathan Chandler, who left Montgomery Catholic to accept the head coaching position at Opelika. Saint James athletic director Larry Ware also moved into a head coaching role after serving as interim head coach during the 2025 season. Hayden Stockton will guide the Trojans in 2026 as they strive to restore Saint James to its former prominence.
Another interesting hire is Lawrence O’Neal, who left Tallassee to take the job at Park Crossing. Voting on which new coach will post the most wins will open on Sunday, July 12, and will run through noon on Thursday, July 16.
Coaches mentioned in the discussion include:
– Aubrey Blackwell of Montgomery Catholic
– Fred Farrier of Percy Julian
– Lawrence O’Neal of Park Crossing
– Hayden Stockton of Saint James
– Abram Whittington of Tallassee
In addition, a photo captures Tallassee’s Abram Whittington (17) celebrating after scoring a run at Pike Road High School in Pike Road, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. In that game, Pike Road defeated Tallassee 3-2.
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football, and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on the Montgomery Advertiser as “Vote for which new high school football coach will have the most wins,” presented by The Vance Law Firm for better SEO.