Former Blount High and Alabama football star Sherman Williams has been approved as the new head football coach at Murphy High in Mobile.
Williams replaces Justin Hannah as the team’s head coach. Hannah was relieved of his coaching duties in September. Dwight Lambert finished the season as the Panthers’ interim coach.
It’s the first head coaching job for Williams, who was approved by the Mobile County School Board at its monthly meeting Monday morning. Williams will address the team Tuesday morning.
“Murphy High School is pleased to announce the hiring of Sherman Williams as the new head football coach of the Panthers,” Murphy principal Ed Sanderson said in a statement. “Mr. Williams brings a wealth of football knowledge and experience to the program. More importantly, he is committed to serving as a positive role model and mentor for all students on campus. We look forward to his leadership and the positive impact he will have on both the athletic program and the school community.”
As a senior at Blount, he became the first Alabama running back to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a season. He ran for 3,004 yards and 31 touchdowns on 307 carries in leading the Leopards to the Class 5A state title in 1990. He was named the 5A Player of the Year.
He signed with Alabama and finished his college career with 2,486 yards and 27 touchdowns on 535 carries. He also had 424 yards receiving and 2 TDs. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 1995 draft. He played five seasons in Dallas, rushing for 1,162 yards and 4 TDs on 302 carries.
Williams ran into difficult times following his pro career and was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison in 2000 on three counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and a separate plea for passing counterfeit currency. He was released on March 1, 2014, and he and former Alabama teammate David Palmer sought a way to influence disadvantaged youth in a positive matter. They created the Palmer Williams Group for that specific purpose, and Williams has continued to give back to his community.
Williams also has written a pair of books about his journey.
He takes over a once-proud Murphy program that has struggled mightily in recent years. The Panthers have won just four games in the last three years combined, haven’t reached the playoffs since 2019 and haven’t won a playoff game since 2011.
Murphy also plays in the highly competitive Class 6A, Region 1 along with perennial playoff contenders Saraland, Spanish Fort, St. Paul’s, McGill-Toolen, Gulf Shores, Theodore, Blount and Baldwin County.
