HATTON — Rickey Johnson knows about championships – he won four state titles as head football coach at Hazlewood High School in Town Creek from 1990 to 2002.
Now, instead of running out the clock, he’s running the kitchen at Coach’s, his restaurant in the Hatton community. After enjoying retirement for a few years, Johnson opened Coach’s in 2016.
A graduate of Hatton High School, Johnson also coached at his alma mater and at Mount Hope. After 36 years of coaching, he was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2008 with a win-loss record of 181-92.
With jerseys from his former teams decorating the golden brown plank walls, Coach’s has a welcoming atmosphere. Much of that is due to Johnson regularly leaving the kitchen to greet his guests, many of whom are former players and their families. Or out-of-town folks who know about the success of Hazlewood and who want to get a taste of victory at a local spot.
Eat and greet
On a recent Friday evening, my mom, my brother, and I made our way down Alabama Hwy. 101 to Coach’s for supper. After being seated in a booth, my mom asked our server to let Johnson know that one of his former Hazlewood players was there. (My brother was a starter on three-straight football championship teams.)
It wasn’t long before Coach made his way from the kitchen to our table and greeted my brother with a big grin and warm handshake.
“It’s good to see you!” he told my brother. “Thank y’all for coming. Come on back to the kitchen and let me show these young folks working back there what a real football stud looks like.”
We all laughed, and my brother followed Coach to the kitchen where he was introduced to the staff with Coach sharing a few of their sports exploits, letting them both relive the glory days.
But you don’t have to be a former player to get star treatment. Johnson works the room like someone who spent 36 years in the business of high school football in the South – he welcomes everyone and makes sure they have what they need and even asks for suggestions on improving dishes.
Fresh variety
Now back to the food. Coach’s has a salad bar with a variety of fresh produce. I could’ve made a meal of only the salad bar, but I had to have the chicken tenders and fries. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside while the fries were perfectly seasoned and cooked with just enough crunch.
My brother had a cheeseburger and fries while my mom ordered the Hawaiian chicken. Suffice to say we all went home satisfied and a couple of us might have even had to loosen a button on the drive back.
In addition to the salad bar, cheeseburgers, and chicken, the menu also includes appetizers like fried pickles, bacon cheese fries, and cheese sticks. Entrees include five varieties of steak, fish and shrimp, pork chops, three types of pasta, and seven kinds of sandwiches. Sides feature sweet potatoes, fries, rice, hush puppies, onion rings, slaw, baked potatoes, and mixed veggies. Finish your meal with a brownie and ice cream and you might have to loosen a button, too.
For more information, including food photos, visit Coach’s Facebook page.
Location
6730 Co Rd 236 (just off Hwy. 101)
Town Creek, AL 35672
256-685-0606
Hours
Thursday, 4-8 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 4-8:30 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m-2 p.m.
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