FAYETTEVILLE, Ala. – For many years, Coach Al Barnett has been not only coaching at the high school level, but also teaching young people how to live their lives and how to be a positive example in our communities.
Barnett has won numerous awards over his career for teaching excellence while capturing the love and admiration of his students, but this recently-achieved milestone comes from the hardwood where most of us know him simply as “Coach Al”.
On Tuesday night, Dec. 16, Coach Barnett grasped his 300th coaching win in high school basketball as his Lady Wolves of Fayetteville defeated the Alabama School for the Deaf Silent Warriors.
Most of us get a kick out of Coach Barnett’s antics in the coaching box, his funny comments towards players and officials, and just his humorous basketball knowledge.
Al really does not like the spotlight being on himself, but in this case, Tuesday night marked a huge accomplishment that absolutely can not be ignored. 300 wins in high school basketball is a milestone that only a select few coaches have reached.
Coach Barnett started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Central-Coosa alongside legendary Coach Joe Belyeu where he has two state championship rings to wear from his stint there.
Then, Al became the head basketball coach of the Childersburg Tigers for 14 years, capturing area and county titles while tallying many 20 win seasons. His most successful season as a head coach came in 2016 as Childersburg reached the pinnacle in high school basketball by playing in the Final Four in Birmingham.
Barnett said, “That 2016 team was special, not only for playing in Birmingham, but [for] the talented kids we had in the system.”
When asked about any memorable games, Al answer was swift, noting, “The game we won in the Regional Championship in 2016 in Montgomery against Handley because their head coach and I were very good friends and it was really special.”
Coach Barnett is pictured above with his current basketball team, with a poster that they made him as well as a signed game ball by all of the Lady Wolves.
Congratulations Coach Barnett, we all love and hope you get 300 more. Also, thank you for all of the great calls that I have had the pleasure of blasting out. You have made us laugh and cry, but most importantly, you have made us all better! Again, congratulations!
