Legendary Vestavia Coach To Step Down After 2020 Season

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — A legendary era of high school football will come to an end after the 2020 season concludes, as Vestavia Hills High School head coach Buddy Anderson announced this week he will retire at the end of the season. The Vestavia Hills Board of Education Thursday morning approved Anderson's retirement.

Anderson is Vestavia Hills City Schools’ longest continuously-serving employee, with 48 years of service. To date, Anderson has won 342 games and has led the Rebels to 31 playoff appearances, winning state championships in 1980 and 1998. He is the winningest football coach at any level in the state’s history, passing Paul W. “Bear” Bryant with the most wins in 2016.

Anderson was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

"Coach Anderson distinguishes himself as a man of the highest character, driven by his faith," said VHCS Superintendent Todd Freeman. "He has consistently modeled humility, respect, kindness, compassion, and love for those he coached, taught, and worked with. He is the epitome of an exceptional educator. His calling in life is one that has been solely focused on helping young people develop character, knowledge, and skills to be good citizens. No matter whether he is giving instruction to an athlete or tutoring a student in academics, his heart has been solely invested in their wellbeing."