An Alabama high school is offering up to $180,000 a year for a new football coach, nearly three times what the state’s average teacher earns.
Dothan High School is looking for someone to turn its struggling football program into a championship contender, and the school district is prepared to pay big money to make it happen.
According to an official job posting published October 28, Dothan City Schools is offering between $150,000 and $180,000 annually for its next head football coach, depending on experience.
For comparison, the average Alabama teacher earns $62,659 annually, according to figures reported by AL.com in February 2026. Starting salaries for first-year teachers were just $47,600 during the 2025-26 school year.
That means the school’s highest advertised coaching salary is approximately 2.9 times the statewide teacher average and nearly four times the starting pay for a new educator.
The job description makes it clear that the district expects results for that money. Applicants must have a proven record of winning football games, making playoff appearances and developing championship-caliber teams.
The position is also a full-time, 12-month role, with the district offering additional salary supplements to attract offensive and defensive coordinators.
Dothan’s search comes after former head coach Jed Kennedy resigned in September following a 2-3 start to the season. Kennedy finished his tenure with a 29-19 record, while the Wolves ended their 2026 regular season at 3-7.
The district hopes to have its new coach in place by late February 2027, according to Yahoo Sports.
The unusually high coaching salary highlights the money surrounding high school football, where expectations can be enormous.
Just weeks earlier, a high school football coach was fired after his team took a 63-0 lead in a game that was ultimately called off at halftime.
For Dothan, the message is clear: The district is prepared to spend big to build a winning football program. Whether that investment delivers a championship remains to be seen.
