The news broke Monday that Terry Curtis, the head football coach of UMS-Wright would be retiring. (per, Simone Eli – WKRG – https://x.com/simoneeli_tv/status/1889023952552436134?s=46)
Curtis, a Mobile native who prepped at Murphy High School and attended college and played baseball at Auburn soon came home to do what he loves. Lead young people, and coach sports. His first job in the coaching profession was as a Junior Varsity Basketball coach and Football Assistant at BC Rain in 1973.
It was a long road to his first head coaching job but it finally came in 1989 at Shaw. Curtis’ Rebels missed the playoffs with a 3-7 record in his first year. It was his worst season as a coach. In year 3 the Rebels found the playoffs in the fall of ‘91 and Curtis was a placeholder for a playoff spot every year thereafter with the exception of 1998. 33 out of 34 seasons.
Curtis went on to spend 6 seasons at Murphy and 27 at UMS-Wright following his 4 year stint at Shaw. In 37 seasons, coach amassed a 361-105 record. Piling up 8 state championships, multiple hall of fame nominations, and a 3-peat along the way.
But why may you ask is Curtis everything “wright” about High School Football? Because every where he went, he won. You can say he won on the metrics of concrete victories. But I say he won in a different kind of way. He brought sub-communities within the Mobile Area together. If you ever hear from one of his former players whether it be a Shaw Rebel, a Murphy Panther or a Bulldog from UMS-Wright they all say the same things. That Terry Curtis made them a better person and that their schools were immensely better due to having the experience of Terry Curtis at the head of the football program.
Notorious for his one liners (https://x.com/benthomaspreps/status/1686748823727616000?s=46) and charming smile and southern drawl. The Local High School Football Community was better for having the experience of Terry Curtis in our neck of the woods.
A coach who can rally a community for a school, make young men better people in the game of life, and just flat out win on and off the field is a rarity in the sport. Terry Curtis checks all the boxes.
To Coach, Happy Retirement. Get after its tail!
Bates Sports 