[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6342093,"mediaKeyId","2255717-835ef76ee5faad32bfab29497c692bb7","parentId",2255717,"title","Columbia High names Sam Coates head football coach; school leaders emphasize character development","audioSeconds",215,"startMs",442811,"endMs",658330,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255717-835ef76ee5faad32bfab29497c692bb7&start=442&end=658","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255717-835ef76ee5faad32bfab29497c692bb7/thumbnail_442811.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342093/Alabama/Columbia-High-names-Sam-Coates-head-football-coach-school-leaders-emphasize-character-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342093-21b2d3f1bc240242f2a4603e653c80b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149874&Signature=iIdCvUS~wLX00k9h5ASitiivFceh9oerWvI5kB412Hj53A-v-CRlZoddz6qX38LxPt5kuQfJVhLLlQTl2fQIKmK7QnMYlxquhgsoh4TOWF4qILQTOFxt01LuJnc7-qMDXl3zX5Ha9f6AB2j-mixYqmz0JfoMHLdV~GiSnMjgZgxBekAaSa7GJkNn0U0BeAp2LMuVVxBr7WvQkIMNd8gH984jEvaCMENj4Hwwp3BBZNeBGICvrpZqC1MIDFKncNOS3Ulu6pYPBUSZbVYUsyPzg7lNREYVlOtihmW6XihCusK~ZWlMM3y6s865pcUMsDcxwBzJ2wyzkanCw2JPoeM1ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Huntsville City Schools, AL","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","Huntsville City Schools officials introduced Sam Coates as Columbia High School’s new head football coach during the Board of Education meeting. Principal Dr. Jones said the school considered 35 to 40 applicants and selected Coates for his experience and focus on student development.

Dr. Jones said the search team wanted “somebody who could be a character builder of men” whose mission aligns with the school’s vision to produce productive citizens. Coates, who spoke after the announcement, said he played at Auburn University and had an eight-year professional playing career. “My goal is to guide those young men not to be football players, but to be great people,” Coates said; he described the job as a long-held ambition and said he is focused on helping athletes become their best selves.

The announcement was presented by Columbia High School administrators; board members and the new coach stayed afterwards for photos. The meeting record does not show a formal vote to hire Coates during the session; the item was an in-meeting announcement of the school’s selection.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Meeting 1-21-25","oneSentenceSummary","Columbia High School introduced Sam Coates as its new head football coach after a search of 35–40 applicants; Principal Dr. Jones and Coates emphasized character-building and mentorship for student athletes.","taxTitle","Huntsville City Schools, School Districts, Alabama","taxId",13589,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6342098,"Huntsville board approves Grissom High cafeteria expansion, awards construction contract",477,224331,701900,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255717-835ef76ee5faad32bfab29497c692bb7&start=224&end=701","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255717-835ef76ee5faad32bfab29497c692bb7/thumbnail_224331.jpg","/articles/6342098/Alabama/Huntsville-board-approves-Grissom-High-cafeteria-expansion-awards-construction-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342098-f69c650542606f9edb6b00e7f0d9fb62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149874&Signature=TG67D1vVsamewrez9On8F8h0QxcaztKY1oePv--uaYEnmTSZZUfZMeGPZ4awvNfUojnbhAfjBBOWTpIJsIjJQ5v62krz8QJ~DZknUBMfPe8oG2ba5WzE-btJz~7eYNklqp7rTyhjTmD9zhZidA7Kb5N7hokJrKw3VUuFm3tY4hGopC2lh5X~77bEJqc~TtrwNc2a4nE5iYSjV9lv2ZEGQVilpZYgyLxZK-8U8sCyMk0972OV4BzkrSTxJNBQMGWVWrNx2wn13vZa8y86ziN2IN0yqWEkuDxzLYJK78U6h0~3wWGScmGyuBYj9ZV82DjtqYOYn2nccfGedi4~PcVIyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Huntsville City Schools Board of Education approved a construction contract for a Grissom High School cafeteria expansion and classroom renovations, awarding the low bid to Dunlop Contracting for $2,982,381. The district’s total budget for the project is $3,079,230, and administrators estimated completion in December 2025.

District staff said the project will add more than 50 cafeteria seats and create renovated classrooms where Career and Technical Education space was vacated; the scope also includes a dedicated dance and cheer room in an adjacent building. Bidders and their amounts listed by staff were: Dunlop Contracting, $2,982,381; Wilcox Builders, $2,998,500; and EMW Construction, $3,048,530. A rendering and a bid tabulation were provided to the board.

Staff told the board construction will begin while school is in session and the existing wall will be removed after the new space is ready, so the expanded cafeteria should be in use by the December 2025 target. A board member noted, “I can formally say there will be a cheer and dance space in December of 2025,” during the discussion. The motion to approve the construction contract was moved and approved by voice vote; the chair voted aye. The meeting record does not list an itemized roll-call tally.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes for Dec. 3 and Dec. 17: approved (voice vote; no roll-call names recorded).
- Consent agenda (gifts to schools and bids): approved (voice vote; no roll-call names recorded).
- Professional services agreement report: approved (voice vote; no roll-call names recorded).
- Human resources report: approved (voice vote; no roll-call names recorded).
- Grissom High School cafeteria addition and classroom renovations construction contract (low bid: Dunlop Contracting, $2,982,381; budget: $3,079,230; estimated completion: December 2025): approved (voice vote; chair voted aye).","The Huntsville City Schools Board approved a construction contract to expand Grissom High School’s cafeteria and renovate classrooms, awarding the low bid to Dunlop Contracting for $2,982,381; the project is budgeted at $3,079,230 and is expected to finish in December 2025.","actionData","errors"]

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Columbia High names Sam Coates head football coach; school leaders emphasize character development

Huntsville board approves Grissom High cafeteria expansion, awards construction contract