It would be tough to imagine John Grass off the sidelines in a head coaching role for very long.
He’ll be back there in 2026.
Samford University hired former Grass, a former Albertville High School head coach, to revive its football program.
“Coach Grass has won at every level,” Samford President Beck A. Taylor said. “He knows this state and region well. In addition to excellence on the field, Coach Grass also embraces and embodies Samford’s Christ-centered educational mission.
“I welcome John and his family back to Alabama. Faith, family, football and fun will be a winning combination for the Bulldogs.”
Grass spent nine seasons at Jacksonville State, with eight as head coach of the Gamecocks. He’s been on the staff at Clemson the past four seasons, helping the Tigers to the Atlantic Coast Conference title and the College Football Playoff in 2024.
He led the Aggies to their most successful season in the 21st century. He guided Albertville to a 9-4 season with a run to the Class 5A quarterfinals — the deepest playoff run AHS has ever made.
It was a special time in Albertville. School pride was at a fever pitch as the community embraced the team following postseason wins over Gardendale and Athens.
But Grass left Albertville on the cusp of spring practice in 2003 to take over Moody and upset more than a few people on the mountain. He later coached Spain Park, then Oxford, before joining Bill Clark’s Jacksonville State staff as offensive coordinator in 2013.
Grass became the Gamecocks leader the next season after Clark became the head coach at UAB. Jax State went 72-26 under Grass from 2014-21 and won six Ohio Valley Conference championships.
Grass was national Coach of the Year in 2015 after leading Jacksonville State to the FBS national championship game.
“I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Beck Taylor and (athletic director) Martin Newton for the opportunity to lead the Samford Bulldog football program,” Grass said in a statement.
“I’ve always fostered a great respect for the Samford community and I’m excited to get boots on the ground and get to work. I’m grateful to Coach Swinney for the last four years at Clemson, but I am excited to join the Bulldog family.”
Samford went 1-11 this year. Bank on big improvement in ’26.
David Clemons is an Albertville native who published newspapers in Alabama and Georgia and now works in health care marketing in Atlanta. His email address is [email protected]
John Grass was introduced last week as the 37th football coach at Samford University. The former Albertville coach comes to Homewood from the offensive staff at Clemson. Pictured from left are Samford President Beck A. Taylor, left, and athletics director Martin Newton. SPECIAL TO THE LEADER
