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2023 Coaching Staff

HC/DC/LB Whitehead

Asst HC/DL Cory Thomas

OC Powell

WR/Co-OC Merkerson 

OL Womack

RB Allen

DB "Pluck" Thomas

Admin Asst Amanda Kent

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Darryl Whitehead, Sr.​

Head Coach / DC / LB

Coach Whitehead currently serves as the Pirates Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Linebacker Coach.  His extensive playing and coaching experience have proven instrumental to the success of the Pirates.  Coach Whitehead's playing experience includes:

  • Banks High School (1978-82) - WR / DB

  • Low Country Renegades (1992-94) - SS


Coach Whitehead has over 30 years of coaching experience:

  • Southern Lehigh HS, Coopersburg, PA (1989-90) - WR / OC

  • L.E. Dieruff HS, Allentown, PA (1990-92) - WR / OC

  • Goose Creek HS, Goose Creek, SC (1992-94) - OLB / DC

  • Moss Point HS, Moss Point, MS (2001-03) - DB

  • CW Hayes HS, Birmingham, AL (2005-06) - DB

  • PD Jackson-Olin HS, Birmingham, AL (2007) - LB / DC

  • Huffman HS, Birmingham, AL (2008-10) - DC

  • PD Jackson-Olin HS, Birmingham, AL (2012-13) - DB / DC

  • Thompson HS, Alabaster, AL (2014-17) - DL

  • AP Brewer HS, Somerville, AL (2017-2019) - DL/ Co-DC

  • Fountain City Pirates, Prattville, AL (2020-2022) - DC

  • Fountain City Pirates, Prattville, AL (2023) - HC 

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Cory Thomas

Asst HC / DL

Coach Cory Thomas serves as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach.  A 6-foot-6, 270-pound three-star DL in high school, Coach Thomas played for Mississippi State University before being drafted to the NFL in 2022.  His playing experience includes: 

  • MacAdory HS, McCalla, AL (2011-14) - DL

  • Miami Dolphins (2019)

  • Houston Gamblers USFL (2022-Present) - DL

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Coaching experience:

  • Fountain City Pirates (2021-2022) - DL

  • Fountain City Pirates (2023) - AHC / DL

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Jarred Powell

Offensive Coordinator

Coach Jarred Powell serves as the Offensive Coordinator and is in his 3rd year coaching prep football.  He holds an Exercise Science degree from the University of South Alabama, where he also played football.  His playing experience includes: 

  • McAdory HS, McCalla, AL

  • Austin Peay, Clarksville, TN

  • University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL - DB/WR

  • Semi-Pro and Area league football (4 years) - DB/WR

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Coaching experience:

  • Fountain City Pirates (2021-2022) 

  • Fountain City Pirates (2023) - OC

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Off the field, Coach Powell is focused on making sure that players are successful in the classroom and building maturity to take to the next level.

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Rodrice Merkerson

Wide Receiver / Co-Offensive Coor.

Coach Merkerson, in his second year with the Pirates, currently serves as the Wide Receiver coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator.  His playing experience includes:​

  • Wetumpka HS, Wetumpka, AL (1993-97)

  • Central Alabama Renegades (2000-05)

  • Montgomery Maulers (2006-07)

  • Montgomery Buffaloes (2007-13)

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Coaching Experience:

  • Wetumpka Middle School (2008-09)

  • Prattville Patriots (2016-18) - WR

  • Fountain City Pirates (2022) - WR / Passing Game Coor. 

 

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Anthony K. Womack

Offensive Line Coach

Coach Anthony Womack serves as the Offensive Line coach and is in his 3rd year coaching prep football.  He holds an Exercise Science degree from the University of South Alabama, where he also played football.  In 2007 he was on a semi-pro National Championship team and was selected as an All-Star.  Coach Womack earned the APDFL Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2016.  His playing experience includes: 

  • Autaugaville HS, Autaugaville, AL 

  • Concordia College, Selma, AL - OL

  • Prattville Patriots APDFL (2017) - OL

  • Tuskegee Ayrmen APDFL (2019) - OL

  • East Alabama Predators (2020) - OL

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Coaching experience:

  • Birmingham Blackhawks APDFL (2021) - Asst OL

  • Fountain City Pirates (2022-23) - OL

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Felix Allen

Running Back Coach

Coach Allen, in his second year with the Pirates, currently serves as the Linebacker coach.  He is a a proud 2000 graduate of St.Jude High Institute where he was named team captain, scholar-athlete, All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State.  Coach Allen majored in Computer Science from Alabama A&M University.  His post-HS playing experience includes:​

  • Alabama A&M University - DB

  • Huntsville Rockets Semi-Pro (2012) - RB

  • Prattville Patriots APDFL (2016-19) - LB

 

While playing Linebacker for the patriots, he earned an All-Conference honor, served as team captain, and was #36 in the Top 50 Players. Coach Allen is also a leader in the community to young kids and gives back to the youth league football. He lives in Birmingham and looks forward to what the future holds for the Pirates.

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Bryant "Pluck" Thomas, Jr.

Defensive Back Coach

Coach Bryant "Pluck" Thomas, Jr currently serves as the Defensive Backs coach in his first year with the Pirates.  After intercepting pass after pass, Coach Thomas earned the nickname "Pluck."  Coach Pluck's playing experience includes:​

  • Cordova HS (2011-12)

  • Parrish High School (2012-14) 

  • Oakman High School (2014-15)

  • P-Town Wrekas APDFL (2018-19) - DB

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Coaching experience:

  • Cordova High School (2020-21) - DB

  • Dora High School (2021-22) - DB

  • Fountain City Pirates (2023) - DB

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Administrative Staff

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Amanda Kent

Administrative Assistant

Amanda Kent joined the Pirates staff in 2023 to assist Coach Whitehead and the coaching staff with the numerous administrative tasks that are necessary to operate a post-graduate football program. 

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