Indians hire Gross to be head coach

By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
The Colbert County Board of Education approved on Tuesday the hiring of former UNA standout Cody Gross as head football coach at Colbert County High School.
Gross had previously served as an assistant coach at the college level for five years and the high school level for six years, the last four at Athens. As offensive coordinator this past season, he helped the Golden Eagles win the Class 5A state championship.
Gross, 33, played his high school football at Lauderdale County and then played quarterback at UNA, leading the Lions to three straight Division II national championships from 1993-95.
He later coached at Lauderdale County, UNA, and Delta State.
Red Bay head coach Dale Jeffreys was also a finalist for the Colbert County job.
Jeffreys has been at Red Bay for 10 seasons, making him the longest-tenured head football coach in school history.
This past season, he guided the Tigers to their eighth consecutive Class 2A playoff berth. Red Bay advanced to the second round before falling to No. 2 Fyffe, finishing with a record of 6-6.
Jeffreys led the Tigers to the state quarterfinals in 2003 and 2004. Red Bay has posted undefeated regular seasons twice under Jeffreys, in 2002 and 2004.
Gross replaces Steve Mask, who resigned in December after five years as head coach.