Veteran football coach Jamey DuBose is back at Alabama State.

DuBose, who won a Class 7A state title at Central-Phenix City and a pair of 6A titles at Prattville, was approved Thursday as the new football coach at Orange Beach High School. He stepped down earlier today as head coach at Lowndes, Georgia.

He replaces Chase Smith, who left to become head coach at Spanish Fort.

“I missed Alabama,” said DuBose AL.com. “The time had come for me to come back and be closer to my mother. The mayor (Tony Kennon) is a great talker and seems like a great guy. I’m excited to do something in a place that’s almost brand new. Chase did a great job. In just two years, they have won quite well and laid a good foundation. I can’t wait to see what I can do to keep it going. »

DuBose will be officially introduced at a Meet and Greet press conference at 2 p.m. Friday at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Orange Beach High School.

“I see this as a great opportunity,” he said. “Someone asked me today, ‘Why Orange Beach?’ My response was, ‘Why not Orange Beach? The timing of this move is wonderful. I’m thrilled about it.

DuBose’s father, Harold, died suddenly on March 21 at the age of 75. Returning to Alabama gives Jamey DuBose a chance to fulfill the promise he made to his father to take care of his mother.

“My mother lives in Opp,” he said. “She’s been with me for about a week. She has doctors in Pensacola and she can come and stay with me. It’s much easier to drive than where I was.

DuBose resigned after six years at Central-Phenix City in January 2020. He was hired soon after in Lowndes, Georgia, where he has spent the past two years.

A graduate of Opp High and Troy, he has served as head coach at four Alabama schools. He went 10-11 in two years at Susan Moore, 45-10 with a pair of state titles in four years at Prattville, 16-8 in two years at Florence and 66-11 in six years at Central-Phenix City. .

He led the Red Devils to the Class 7A semi-finals three times in a row and to the league game in his last two seasons, winning the title in 2018.

“Honestly, I missed the camaraderie of coaches in this state,” he said. “I was in several committees when I left. I liked that. There are good people and good things in Georgia, but it was time to go home. My wife needs two years to retire. It gives him the chance to come back and finish this.

Smith started the program in Orange Beach. The Makos went 3-6 in his first season, then went 9-2 a year ago and staged a first round playoff game. DuBose will try to take the team to the next level.

“We’re going to run well, play fast, smart and physically and do what we’ve always done,” he said. “We will be playing an exciting brand of football. I have already received text messages from people in the community. I am ready to make it happen, to build relationships and to build a football programme.

Big changes are coming for the school. The city council recently voted to form its municipal school system and opt out of public schools in Baldwin County.

Additionally, Makos will move from Class 2A to Class 4A for the 2022-23 school year.

“It will be another challenge,” he said. “I have never been in 4A. We won in 6A and 7A, so it will be an opportunity to do so in 4A.

DuBose’s only other coaching stint on the Gulf Coast was a brief stint at Alma Bryant under then-coach Mark Lasseter.