Alabama High School Offers Football Coach $150,000 to $180,000 Salary

Dothan High School in Alabama is looking for a new head coach to turn a struggling football program into a championship contender. The school's district, Dothan City Schools, is ready to pay big money for the job.

According to the job posting the district published on October 28, the head coach will be paid between $150,000 and $180,000 a year, depending on experience. The average annual teacher salary in Alabama is $62,659, and the first-year salary for a new teacher was listed as $47,600 for the 2025-26 school year. Based on this, the highest advertised coaching salary is about 2.9 times the state average and nearly four times the starting salary of a new teacher.

The posting calls for a candidate with a proven record of winning, playoff appearances, and the ability to build a championship-level team. The position is full-time and a 12-month role. The school also offers additional salary support to attract offensive and defensive coordinators.

Dothan's search began when previous head coach Jed Kennedy resigned in September, after a 2-3 start. Kennedy finished his tenure with 29 wins and 19 losses. The Wolves finished the 2026 regular season with 3 wins and 7 losses. The school aims to have the new coach start at the end of February 2027.