Bill Smith named Fayette Co. head coach

Fayette, AL – For the first time since 1984, the Fayette County Tigers will be lead by a head coach with a last name other than Tucker.

The 4A program named Munford’s Bill Smith the Tigers 24th head football coach following the resignation of Lance Tucker who stepped down in January to accept the head coaching position at Tennessee’s Bartlett High School. During his eight year tenure, Lance Tucker lead the Tigers to a 76-31 record including five region titles, a 45-6 mark in region play and three state championship game appearances. Lance took over for his father, legendary coach Waldon Tucker, who lead the Tigers for 27 seasons and walked away as the AHSAA’s all-time winningest coach when he retired following the 2010 season.

Smith during his four year stint at Shades Valley High School

Smith, a punter at the University of Alabama in the late 1980’s, spent the last four seasons at Munford, leading the Lions to combined 28-18 record including three playoff births and a region title in 2017. Before accepting the Lions top job, Smith resurrected the once proud Shades Valley Mounties program in Jefferson County. He lead the Mounties, who had only recorded 13 victories in the five seasons prior to his arrival, to a 26-19 record and three postseason appearances during is four years in Irondale. His first head coaching post was a two year stint at Crossville where he lead the 4A Lions to a 9-11 mark in two seasons.

Smith’s head coaching record currently stands at 63-48.