Hartselle native new coach at JCHS
Hartselle native Wade Waldrop is the new head football coach at James Clemens High School in Madison.
He was appointed to the position by Madison City Schools Board of Education at a special meeting on Feb. 21. He replaces Bill Stewart who resigned to take an administrative school position in Jackson County, Ga.
According to John Beck, public relations director for Madison City Schools, Waldrop was hired after a search committee narrowed down a list of 100 applicants.
Waldrop said the opportunity to coach at a new school in an aggressive community with vast resources is what attracted him to James Clemens.
“My wife Kimberly and I have deep roots and lots of wonderful friends in Chelsea. and the decision to leave was a difficult one; however, we feel Madison is the place where we want to raise our family,” Waldrop said. “Professionally, I’m excited to be a part of something new and challenging—a ground floor opportunity that has great potential for success.”
Waldrop’s tenure as a teacher and coach at Chelsea High School spans 10 years. He has compiled a 41-34 won-loss record as the school’s head coach and athletics director over the past seven years. Both Chelsea and James Clemens are Class 6A schools.
Waldrop will assume his new job on Friday.
The Waldrops have three children, two daughters, Carsyn, 6, and Camryn, 4, and a son, Cooper, 2. He is the son of Butch and Pat Waldrop of Prattville and has a sister, Laura, who lives in Birmingham. He is also the nephew of Judy and Darrell Woodcock and Tim Waldrop, all of Hartselle.
A graduate of Hartselle High School, he received a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Before working in Shelby County, he taught and held athletic jobs at Fayetteville High School in Sylacauga and for his alma mater, the University of Alabama-Birmingham.