By Michael Butler

News broke recently of Tallassee head football coach and athletic director L.A. O’Neal being offered the same position at Park Crossing. O’Neal confirmed he has accepted the job. It will be official once approved by Montgomery Public Schools.

Tallassee is now looking for O’Neal’s replacement. The vacancy is being advertised. Tallassee High School principal Dr. Crystal Adams is heading up a committee to review applications.

“They’re going to pull applications Wednesday,” said superintendent of Tallassee City Schools Dr. Brock Nolin. “The job is going to post through Sunday, so those will be considered also.”

Nolin added that the committee will set up interviews for the following week. Applications are already rolling in.

“There have been quite a few. I’d say 15 or 20 have come across my e-mail feed.”

The post lists the position of athletic director on a 12-month contract with a $30,000 stipend. The head coaching supplement is $5,000. The teaching salary is based on college education and teaching experience.

“It’s a good job for somebody,” Nolin noted. “There are probably very few 4A schools that can offer what we offer. It should be a very attractive job.”

Requirements for the job include having a teaching certificate and head football coaching experience or three years as a coordinator.

O’Neal was hired in 2024 and led the program to two playoff berths in his two seasons. The team was 6-5 last year. The Tigers reached the quarterfinals in O’Neal’s first season going 9-3.

“I appreciate the experience,” said O’Neal. “I learned a lot of lessons and had some really good times. It was fun. It was just the right time to move on to the next step in my coaching career.”

O’Neal’s record in six seasons as a head coach is 34-25. He was named the Class 4A Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading Booker T. Washington to the semifinals of the state playoffs. He will take over a Park Crossing program that has been winless the past two seasons.

The coach chose not to elaborate on his future with the Thunderbirds until the job is official but was appreciative of the Tallassee opportunity.

“I met a lot of people that we’re going to miss,” he said, “but it was time to move to the next chapter.”

Tallassee opens the 2025 campaign at Montgomery Academy on Aug. 21.