Contributed

When Reeltown High School Hall of Fame football coach Jackie O’Neal brought Tallassee High School multi-talented standout James “Will” Solomon to Reeltown in 1991, O’Neal said it didn’t matter that he graduated from the Rebels’ archrival school.

“He was the best man for the job,” said O’Neal. “He seemed to fit what I was looking for – what Reeltown was needing.”

O’Neal was right on all counts. Solomon stepped into a school that took great pride in its long continuity on a coaching staff in 1991 and has just completed his 35^th year at the school.

Solomon was announced last week at the AHSAA’s 2026 Class 2A Making a Difference award recipient. He is one of seven individuals, one recipient in each of the AHSAA’s seven classifications, who are being recognized for their impact as exemplary role models in their schools and communities where they serve. The 2026 Class will be honored at the AHSAA Summer Conference Championship Coaches’ Awards Banquet at the Mongomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center on Thursday, July 23 at 6 p.m.

The Making a Difference Award was established in 2011 by then Executive Director Steve Savarese with the AHSAA and its coaching wing the AHSADCA to recognizing individuals who go beyond their normal duties as a coach, teacher, or administrator to make a positive impact in their schools and communities. This year’s seven individuals bring the total recognized in the AHSAA to 108 individuals from 94 different member schools since the first class of recipients in 2011. This award is considered one of the most important honors an educator can receive in the AHSAA, said Executive Director Heath Harmon.

The coaching continuity at Reeltown goes all the way back to AHSAA Hall of Fame (1994) Coach Duane Webster, ironically another Tallassee High School graduate, who served two tenures as Reeltown’s head football coach from 1956-1969 and 1976-1987 – with a brief four-year stint in between at his alma mater just 10 miles away. He finished his coaching career with a 218-93-8 record with 208 of those wins at Reeltown.

Stepping in when Webster retired after winning the 1987 Class 2A state football title was O’Neal, one of Webster’s star players and a key member of his own staff. O’Neal, also inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame (2012), remained as head coach from 1988-2015 finishing his career with a 241-110 record with two state titles and two state titles and two runner-up finishes. Mark Johnson, who was an outstanding player at Reeltown for O’Neal, has been the head coach since 2016 – amassing a 92-33 record winning the 2A state title in 2024 and finishing runner-up in 2023 and 2019.

Solomon was a key member of the staff for O’Neal and Johnson. His roles at Reeltown have been many. In addition to being an assistant varsity football coach during his entire time at Reeltown, has also coached junior school football, baseball, softball, boys’, and girls’ basketball … and has been a treasured math teacher protecting his students’ valuable classroom time learning about mathematics just as much as he has treasured his teaching time as a coach.

Most importantly, his role as middle school coach helped him reach kids early, get them involved and teach them a love and commitment for sports and mathematics – and learning – that has set a high standard, says principal Audrey Stockdale. She knows first-hand. “He was my math teacher when I was in the seventh grade,” she said.

Solomon grew up in Tallassee where he played football and baseball for legendary Hall of Fame Coach Ronnie Baynes – helping the Tigers win two state baseball titles in 1986 and 1987. He attended Troy University from 1987 until 1991, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Comprehensive Education.  

”I teach and coach because it is the most important, most challenging, and most rewarding career in the world, said Solomon. “For me, there is no greater opportunity to serve others.  Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in life.  It is my duty, as a professional educator, to do everything I can to give each student the tools needed to succeed.”

He says he doesn’t have time for excuses. “Rather than making excuses for myself or my students and athletes, I search for ways to remove barriers that might otherwise prevent them from being the best they can be – whether as students or as athletes.  Teachers and coaches have a responsibility to be role models for not only their students, but their peers, parents, and members of the community.  I believe that it is of utmost importance that I influence those I come into contact with to believe in themselves, persevere when things are tough, and to never stop improving.”

Solomon said he has been grateful to have outstanding mentors guiding him from the get-go.

“I was blessed to have many educators that influenced my career choice,” he said. “My father and mother, Jack and Olivia Solomon, were English professors and authors. My aunt, Ellen Solomon, was also an educator, and my wife, Leah, teaches second grade at Reeltown.  She has 32 years’ experience as a teacher.“

He credits his coaches for his passion as a teacher. “My high school baseball coach, Ronnie Baynes, was instrumental in developing my work ethic,” he said. “He never accepted anything less than my best.  Coach Steve McCord, one of my football coaches, taught me to believe in myself and to set goals. Coach Woody Weaver, my high school basketball coach, taught me to choose the harder right over the easier wrong. 

“Coach Frank Autery, my high school receivers coach, made a huge impact on my life.  He influenced my career choice more than anyone.  He was also my 8th grade math teacher.  The way he went about teaching math and coaching inspired me to follow him as a coach and a math teacher.  There are many others.  God blessed me with great role models.”

Solomon has been Reeltown’s Mr. Dependable for more than three decades. He has been a varsity assistant football coach since 1991 – serving as a defensive backs coach and special teams coach who has been on  the staff for nine state championship-game appearances during his tenure. He has spent 27 years as junior high head football coach – guiding the younger Rebels   to a 131-49-1 record during that span. He has coached basketball for 35 years as well – serving at one time or another as the head boys’ or head girls’ coach at the junior high, junior varsity and the high school varsity level. He served as head varsity girls’ basketball coach three different tenures for a total of 16 years.

Solomon has served as head varsity baseball coach for three years from 1993-1995 and has been as assistant baseball coach for nine seasons over two stretches. He was the Reeltown softball coach for four seasons from 1998-2001 with three teams reaching the sub-state round.

During his time at Reeltown, he was instrumental in the construction of the school’s baseball facility and softball facility. He founded Reeltown Youth Baseball in 2000 – and the program continues to flourish with approximately 200 children participating this summer.

Solomon, who has been inducted into the Reeltown Hall of Honor, also finds time to appear regularly as a guest soloist for the RHS Jazz Band. He was selected Tallapoosa County Schools’ Teacher of the Year in 2015-15 and Reeltown Teacher of the Year four times. WSFA TV 12 also selected him as a “Class Act” award recipient.

“Coach Solomon’s influence is measurable – championships won, fields built, leagues founded, curriculum developed, and students who perform at the highest levels,” said Stockdale. “His influence is also immeasurable: the countless hours mentoring young people; recruiting and developing volunteer coaches; modeling servant leadership and strengthening community ties. He balances excellence in the classroom with tireless work on the field and in the community – always focused on student growth, character development, and opportunity.”

He and his wife have two sons.  Hayden, a 2018 Reeltown graduate, and his wife, Ryleigh, reside in Cullman where Hayden is the Project Manager at Cullman Economic Development.  Payne, a 2014 Reeltown graduate, who is engaged, is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Austin, Texas.