Coach Brian Blackmon is entering his 14th year as a coach at Opelika
High School and his first as the Head Coach. Coach Blackmon served as the
Offensive Coordinator for the last 12 years before being named as the Head
Coach and Athletic Director in December of 2008. He was a member of the
1991 State Championship team at Robert E. Lee High School, which was
coached by Hall of Fame Coach Spence McCracken. Coach Blackmon played
football for the University of North Alabama before transferring to Troy State
University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Troy
State University and he holds a Masters degree from Auburn University. He and
his wife, Kellie, have been happily married for 12 years. She is a CPA with LaVoy,
Summerville and Shelton, P.C. The Blackmons have two children, Cade, who
is 9 years old and a daughter, Carlyle, who is 5. The Blackmon’s are members of
First United Methodist Church.

Coach Ryan Thompson begins his 7th year at Opelika High School
and his 5th year as a varsity football coach. He graduated from Robert E. Lee
in Montgomery and played football for coach Spence McCracken. Coach
Thompson received his Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University
in Montgomery. He played football at Jacksonville State University before
transferring to AUM. Coach Thompson coached football and wrestling for
three years at Capitol Heights Jr. High School. He has also coached football
and wrestling for one year at Prattville High School. Coach Thompson coaches
the wide receivers for OHS and is also the head varsity wrestling coach. He
currently teaches 9th grade world history at Opelika High. He is married to
the former Nicole Chappell of Montgomery who teaches 7th grade math at
Opelika Middle School. They have a seven year old daughter, Kate, a four year
old daughter, Macie, and a one-year-old daughter, Klara. The Thompsons are
members of First Baptist Church in Opelika.

Coach Erik Speakman begins his 10th year at Opelika, seven years
coaching Defensive Backs and three years coaching quarterbacks. Before coming
to Opelika, he spent one year at UMS-Wright in Mobile as the wide receiver’s
coach. Coach Speakman is a graduate of Athens High School and Auburn
University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education and a
Master’s in education administration. While at Auburn, he served as a student
assistant to head coaches Terry Bowden and Tommy Tuberville. He is married
to the former Drew Parrent who is a graduate of Opelika High School. The
Speakmans are members of First United Methodist Church in Opelika. They
have a son, Bryce, who is five years old and a daughter, Sara Kate, who is three.

Coach Cedric Ware is entering his first year coaching football at Opelika High School. He is a second-year teacher at OHS, with a great passion for football. Coach Ware graduated from Hadaway High where he excelled in Football, Basketball and track. He also went on to college to play football and run track at Fort Valley State University, earning all-conference in both sports. Then he played arena football for the Columbus Lions for two years. Coach Ware is happily married to Nylvia Ware and they are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter, Gabriella.

Coach Nathan Powell begins his third year at Opelika High School. He spent his first year as the head coach of Opelika’s 9th grade football team and now coaches the safeties for the varsity Bulldogs. Prior to joining the Opelika High staff, he coached wide receivers for two seasons (‘06-07) at Austin High School (Decatur, AL). Coach Powell graduated from Maryville College in 2005 where he played football and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in health/physical education.

Coach Mike Murray is a graduate of Enterprise High School where
he played football under Bill Bacon. While pursuing his education at Auburn
University, he worked as a volunteer coach with the Bulldogs during the 2000
and 2001 season. After graduation, Coach Murray joined the coaching staff
full time when he was hired to teach world history in 2002. Currently, Coach
Murray is the outside linebacker coach. Mike is married to Katie, who is a math
teacher at Opelika High School. They have a 10 year old daughter, Kaleigh, and
a 5 year old son, Luke.

Coach Brian Moore begins his third year at Opelika High School. He spent his first two years as a 9th grade coach, acting as head coach last year. Coach Moore will begin his first year on the varsity level and will work primarily with the tight ends. Prior to coming to Opelika, he coached at Springwood School in 2005 and Lee-Scott Academy in 2004. He attended Auburn University where he received a Bachelors degree in Social science Education in 2007. In the classroom, Coach Moore teaches US History and Government/Economics. Coach Moore was recently married to the former Lindsey Gragg of Lanett, Alabama.

Coach Billy Jones enters his 14th year coaching at Opelika and his 13th year teaching. A graduate of Jeff Davis High School in Montgomery, Coach Jones received his Master’s from Troy University. Coach Jones played baseball at Central Alabama Community College and later transferred to AUM to finish his playing career. In addition to coaching the running backs with football,  Coach Jones teaches driver’s education at Opelika High. Billy is married to the former Karen Yountz, a graduate of Opelika High School. Karen teaches physical education at Smiths Station Intermediate School. The Jones have two sons, Taylor (10) and Brodie (3) and two daughters, Bradi (8) and Railey (8).
The Joneses are members of First United Methodist Church in Opelika.

Coach Buster Daniel begins his 15th year at Opelika High School. He is a graduate of Valley High School and received his Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and his Master’s Degree from Troy University. Buster teaches physical education at Opelika High School. Coach Daniel started his career coaching and teaching in Troup County, Georgia where he taught elementary physical education and coached 9th grade football and basketball. At Opelika, Coach Daniel is the special teams coordinator and coaches the offensive line and is also the boy’s varsity golf coach. He is married to the former Dana Washburn of Lanett. Dana teaches at Morris Avenue Intermediate School. The Daniels have 3 children, Cody (20), Taylor (16) and Caitlyn (13). They attend First Baptist Church Opelika.

Coach Alex Dowdell is entering his second year coaching at Opelika High School. He spent last year as the freshman linebacker coach before moving up to varsity. Alex is a former OHS football player who played under Coach Spence McCracken, as a three-year starter, before coming back to Opelika, Alex traveled the world in the U.S. Army, in which he still serves today. He also attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he played three years before becoming a graduate assistant coach under Watson Brown. Alex graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2007 with his BA in Science and Health Education. He and his girlfriend, Tara Keith, are proud parent of a son, Braeden Alexander Dowdell.

Coach Bill McManus graduated from Auburn University in 1973 with a degree in secondary education. He spent 29 years coaching football and track at Dalton High School in Dalton, Georgia. Coach McManus spent three years as the defensive coordinator and four years as the head coach. For Opelika High, Coach McManus is the defensive coordinator and is also the head coach of girl’s golf. Bill teaches algebra at Opelika High School and his wife Donna is currently a homemaker. Coach McManus enjoys tennis and golf. The McManus’ are members of First Baptist Church Opelika.

Coach Steve Coker is in his third year at Opelika. He is a graduate of
Valley High School, and graduated from Auburn University in 1993. He has 14
years of experience and will be teaching physical education this year at OHS.
His first job was at Lafayette Jr. High as a head football coach. He then worked
as the assistant varsity football and baseball coach at Lafayette High School. In
1995, he transferred to Valley where he was assistant varsity football and baseball.
His last job was back to Lafayette High School as assistant varsity football coach
and one year as head varsity track coach. He will also be the head junior varsity
baseball coach for the bulldogs this year. He and his wife Heather have one son
Steven, Jr. and they attend Riverview Baptist Church in Valley.

Trainer Katie Fleck is 22 years old and is from Farmington Hills, Michigan. She is the oldest of five children. She received a BS from Central Michigan University in the spring of 2009, with a major in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine. During her time at Central, she worked with Central’s track and field, wrestling, football and softball teams, and she worked at Beal City High School with their football and volleyball teams. She recently completed her internship at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she worked with their women’s volleyball team. She will be working on her Masters of Education degree at Auburn University. She is in her first year here at Opelika High School.