Wade Waldrop To Be New Hoover High Football Coach: Reports

HOOVER, AL —Wade Waldrop, who spent the 2021 season in charge at Florence High School, is expected to be named as the new head football coach at powerhouse Hoover High, AL.com and WBRC reported on Wednesday.

The Hoover City Schools Board will vote to confirm the hiring at its Thursday meeting, according to reports.

Waldrop's name was initially leaked on Hoover Bucs Football's Twitter account Wednesday in an announcement about a meet and greet on Thursday, AL.com reported.

"Congrats Coach Wade Waldrop, let's get to work and win State! Go Bucs!" the announcement said.

The tweet also included a photo of Waldrop.

However, by Wednesday afternoon, the tweet had been taken down, replaced by a tweet that included the details of the school board meeting and the reception, but no longer contained Waldrop's name or photo.

"Tomorrow! Hoover City Schools Board Meeting to Vote/ Confirm on Hoover High's new HFC. it will start at 5:30 in the BAND ROOM, then COACH will meet with media/ others afterwards. Go Bucs, the Quest for Blue Map #14 starts tomorrow!"

Still, all signs point to Waldrop being the new coach and successor to Josh Niblett, who resigned as Bucs' coach after the 2021 season to take over the program at Gainesville High School in Georgia.

In Waldrop's one season at Florence, the Falcons went 5-6 and lost to the eventual Class 7A champion Thompson in the first round of the playoffs.

Before that, the Hartselle native and UAB graduate spent eight years in charge at James Clemens, where his teams went 54-35 and reached the Class 7A playoffs six teams.

Earlier in his career, Waldrop spent seven years as the head coach at Chelsea, leading the Hornets to a 54-35 record and four playoff appearances.

Jeff Sentell, who covers Georgia football for DawgNation.com, was quick to praise the hire on Twitter:

"Incredible move. I know a lot of great men in high school that are coaches and Wade Waldrop is one of them," he wrote. "He coached former 'Dawgs Jake Ganus and Monty Rice in HS. He's set to become the HC at not only one of the best jobs in the South, but the entire country."

Waldrop certainly has a tough act to follow.

In Niblett's 14 seasons in charge, Hoover went 171-26 and won six state titles —2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017—and finished runner-up three times —2008, 2010, 2011. Hoover went 12-1 last season.

Waldrop's Hoover debut is scheduled to be against Auburn High on August 19 in the AHSAA Kickoff Class at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery.