Nick Gentry Officially Named Pell City Head Football Coach

June 14, 2024

Pell City, AL – Nick Gentry has officially been named the 38th head coach at Pell City High School. The Prattville native becomes the Panthers’ third leader on the gridiron in the past three seasons. Gentry served as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator in 2023 and stepped in as interim head coach after Rush Propst resigned earlier this spring. This week, the Pell City Board of Education voted unanimously (5-0) to remove the interim title.

Gentry’s football career began at Prattville High under coach Bill Clark, where he contributed to the Lions’ perfect 15-0 season and their 2006 AHSAA Class 6A state title.

Part of Nick Saban’s first recruiting class, Gentry played for Alabama from 2007-2012 and won two national championships with the Crimson Tide. After earning his degree at The Capstone, he began his coaching career in 2012 as a defensive analyst at the University of Tennessee.

In 2013, Gentry joined Bill Clark’s staff at Jacksonville State as a graduate assistant on the defensive line. That year, he helped guide the Gamecocks to an 11-4 overall record and a quarterfinal appearance in the FCS playoffs. He was promoted to full-time assistant in 2014, coaching outside linebackers and defensive ends, and played a key role in leading JSU to a FCS national championship game appearance.

In 2018, Gentry moved to UAB to coach linebackers, helping the Blazers capture a pair of Conference USA titles. Before joining Propst’s staff at Pell City, he served as a Pass Rush Specialist in the USFL.

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The Panthers are coming off two challenging seasons, each with a 1-9 record in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Pell City will join defending state champion Clay-Chalkville, Huffman, Mountain Brook, Oxford, Pinson Valley, and Shades Valley in a redrawn Class 6A, Region 6.

Gentry will lead the Pell City on the field for the first time on August 23rd, they welcome the Pelham Panthers to Pete Rich – Alumni Stadium.