MONTGOMERY – A pair of North Alabama school administrators with major contributions to high school athletics have been selected for induction into the Class of 2026 Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Willie Moore of Athens and Hackleburg’s John Hardin are among 12 people announced by AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon and Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association Director James T. Lawrence. The induction will be March 26 in Montgomery.
Also selected were administrators Jamie Chapman and Kimberly Kiel; football coaches Jeff Smith and Larry Strain; basketball coaches Ricky Austin, Owen Butts, Anthony Edwards, Willie Maxey, and Joseph Pettway; and from the Old-Timers’ Division was track coach Samuel Pettaway.
“What a difficult task our Hall of Fame selection committee had this year – and every year,” said Harmon. “It was very heartwarming to see so many individuals nominated from all across the state who truly have made a lasting positive impact on so many lives.”
Lawrence also praised the committee and the member schools for their roles in the nomination and selection process.
“This was indeed a difficult job paring down the selections to just 12 as the bylaws require,” he said. “We appreciate all the member schools who submitted their respective nominees. The nominees have dedicated their lives to helping promote and support education-based athletics.
“We can’t thank them enough for their service and sacrifice.”
The first class was inducted in 1991. The 12 new inductees will push the total enshrined into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame to 427.
WILLIE MOORE (ADMINSTRATOR/COACH)
An Athens faculty member said, “Anyone in contact with Mr. Moore is better for the experience because above all else, Mr. Moore is a model of integrity that my peers and I hold as our exemplar.”
A graduate of Bibb County High School (1988), Moore, 55, graduated from the University of Alabama (1994) cum laude, and earned degrees from Jacksonville State and Alabama State, cum laude.
He returned to his hometown of Centreville to begin his teaching and coaching career in 1995 at Brent Elementary School. He moved to West Blocton High School the next year serving as a teacher and coach, then returned to Bibb County High School in 1997 where he coached and taught through 2005.
He served as a teacher, coach and administrator at Dallas County High School from 2005-2018 – becoming the school’s principal in 2016.
In 2018, he moved north to Athens High School as the Academy principal and was elevated to executive principal in 2020 – a position he still holds.
As an administrator, he has served as a CLAS Director (2023), AASSP District 8 President (2020–2023). He moved rapidly into leadership as an administrator – leading to his present position at Athens High School.
As a basketball coach, his accomplishments have been legendary – earning Coach of the Year in Bibb County in 1996, Tuscaloosa News Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001, Selma Times-Journal Coach of the Year twice, and AHSAA Class 4A state coach of the year in 2014. His boys’ basketball coaching record was 539-138, coached 18 area championships, reached the region tournament 10 times and the AHSAA Final Four twice – winning the state crown in 2014.
Moore served many roles at Dallas County including girls’ softball coach (106-43), boys’ baseball coach (109-44), and stepped in as interim football coach. He coached the South squad in the 2015 North-South Basketball Classic.
He is described by a faculty member at Dallas County as having exceptional leadership skills and exhibiting a strong dedication to the continuous personal and professional growth of every student he encounters.
Moore was an AHSAA Class 4A “Making a Difference” recipient in 2016 while at Dallas County. His wife Linda Moore received the same honor in Class 6A at Athens High School in 2021.
JOHN HARDIN (ADMINISTRATOR)
While his leadership statewide was important, his leadership at home after a tornado destroyed much of his town and county and the high school was his finest moment.
“The true test was in 2011,” said nominator Ann West, superintendent of Marion County Schools, in her recommendation letter for Hardin. “The April 27 tornadoes that year destroyed both the elementary and high schools in Hackleburg. Mr. Hardin stepped up and provided great leadership during a very trying time. Not only were the schools destroyed, but the entire town was also destroyed. For the next four years, they had school in modular units.
“It was a tough situation that Mr. Hardin made the best of every day – and did it with a great attitude.”
Those who watched his leadership at work certainly agreed. Hardin was named the Hackleburg Alumnus of the year in 2019 and earned the AHSAA’s coveted Class 1A “Making a Difference” Award in 2019. Hardin was inducted into the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Born in Jackson, Miss., Hardin, 69, grew up in Hackleburg, graduating in 1974 and earning his college degree four years later at the University of Mississippi. He finished his master’s at West Alabama.
He began his career as an educator at Amory, Miss., where he taught and coached through 1983. He then moved back home to Hackleburg to begin a tenure that would last for the next three decades. He made his impact first as a teacher and coach – guiding the Panthers’ football team to a 118-98 record, 12 state playoff appearances and seven region championships from 1980-2008.
Hardin also served as the school’s head girls’ softball coach with even greater success compiling a 246-119 record from 1988-2000. His teams won five area titles, advanced to two Final 4 appearances, and four Elite Eight appearances. He was girls’ head basketball coach from 1992-2005 with 236 wins, 106 losses, four area crowns, two Elite 8 appearances, two Northwest Region titles and two Final Four appearances.
As impressive as his coaching success was, his remarkable rise to become one of the AHSAA’s strongest leaders.
As the Hackleburg principal, he served 23 years on the District 7 Legislative Council, eight years on the AHSAA Central Board of Control with two terms as CBOC president.
His sage advice and wise counsel helped mold the AHSAA’s future. He served on the Finance Committee, Re-classification Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee, and Hall of Fame Selection Committee during his time on the board.
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