Saraland head football coach named head coach in Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic

Pat O'Donnell
·2 min read

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Saraland head football coach Jeff Kelly will serve as the Alabama head coach in the 38th Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic next December, the Alabama High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday.

The Alabama All-Stars have won four straight games against the Mississippi All-Stars, according to an AHSAA news release.

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Kelly has both coached and played in the game for Alabama with a 2-0 combined record over Mississippi. He was the offensive coordinator in the 2023 All-Star Classic, which Alabama won 31-28. As a quarterback in 1996, he threw a touchdown in Alabama’s 17-14 win over Mississippi.

“I played in the Alabama-Mississippi Game as a player; I coached last year as an assistant coach, and it is a very huge honor to be the head coach in this game,” Kelly said. “I am excited about our staff. We have some really outstanding coaches. Last year I came straight to this game after the Super 7 finals. You have to be able to shift gears, but it doesn’t take you long when you see how important this game is to the players and coaches in this state. I am looking forward to the game already.”

Kelly has coached the Saraland Spartans to two straight state championship games, falling just short of capturing back-to-back titles in Tuscaloosa last season against Clay-Chalkville.

The Spartans have been a top program across the state of Alabama with several players developing and getting opportunities at the collegiate level.

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“Coach Kelly has proven to be one of the AHSAA’s finest head coaches,” Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association Director Dean said. “And he has put together an outstanding all-star coaching staff as well that includes four coaches that won state titles last season, two coaches who played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and one coach who has 351 career coaching wins to his credit.”

Kelly’s staff has also been finalized for this year’s All-Star Classic.

  • Fyffe High School head coach Paul Benefield, defensive line coach

  • McGill-Toolen head coach David Faulkner, offensive coordinator

  • Leroy head coach Jason Massey, linebackers coach

  • Hoover head coach Drew Gilmer, defensive backs coach

  • Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa head coach Jamie Mitchell, offensive line coach

  • Eufaula head coach Jerrel Jernigan, wide receivers coach

  • Saraland assistant coach Matt Dearmon, scout coach

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Benefield holds a 351-56 record across 32 seasons, and the rest of the coaching staff has a combined 513-110 record.

Players will be selected in the fall for the all-star game, which will be held at Hancock Whitney Stadium in December.

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