OPELIKA —
The OHS football team completed spring football practice with a “red versus black” scrimmage at Bulldog Stadium last Friday night. I have not spoken with head coach Erik Speakman since Friday’s scrimmage but discussed spring practice last Thursday on my morning radio show, “On the Mark.” Speakman, who has now completed his sixth spring practice as head coach, told me and listeners the following:
“We have between 160 and 170 players participating in spring drills right now. I use spring to focus on up-and-coming players and non-starters because we know about our returning starters and what position they can play. I plan to do several things during the scrimmage, including letting the first team offense scrimmage against the first team defense and allow kickers and punters to kick, but not live.”
The Dogs will have a few weeks off before beginning summer workouts.
GRADUATION
Opelika High School will hold graduation ceremonies Friday, May 26, inside Bulldog Stadium at 7 p.m. This is a special time of year for the graduates, family and friends. Congratulations to the class of 2023, no matter what school you attend. I want to give a special shoutout to the following seniors that assist me at West Ridge Park during baseball tournaments, among many other duties: George Meyers, Taylor “Tommy” Fields, Dalan Bush and Jake Smith.
OPELIKA CITY SCHOOLS ATHLETIC SUPPLEMENTS
Opelika City Schools faced reclassification in 2022, moving up to 7A. The Dogs competed in the highest classification (6A) until Class 7A was formed in 2014. OHS is once again playing in the top class in the AHSAA, and OCS Superintendent Dr. Farrell Seymore made a strong commitment based on the amount of money spent on coaching supplements at OMS and OHS.
The following is a breakdown of supplements at OMS and OHS for each sport from Opelika City Schools.
OMS ATHLETICS
• System athletic director: $82,000
• OMS athletic director: $8,000
• OMS Baseball, head coach: $2,760 / one assistant: $1,200 / one assistant: $900
• Basketball: one girls head coach: $2,675
• Seventh and eighth grade head boys coaches: $2,675 each
• Basketball assistant for girls and boys: $1,200
• Cheer: head coach: $3,745 / cheer assistant: $2,675
• Cross country head coach for girls and boys: $2,675 each
• Cross country assistants for girls and boys: $900 each
• Dance pom head coach: $3,745 / dance pom assistant: $2,675
• Football: head of operations: $6,000
• Head football coach: $4,600
• Five assistant football coaches: $3,745
• Five assistant football coaches: $2,800
• Strength and conditioning, football only: $450
• Soccer head coach: $2,675 / assistant: $900
• Softball head coach: $2,675 / softball assistant: $1,200 / volunteer coach: $900
• Track girls and boys head coach: $2,675 each
• Assistant track coach: $1,200 / five assistants: $900 each
• Volleyball head coach: $2,675 / one assistant: $1,200
• Wrestling head coach: $2,675 / assistant coach: $1,200 and one assistant at $900
OHS SUPPLEMENTS
• Assistant athletic director for girls: $5,000
• Football head coach: $39,759
• Football varsity assistants: 12 coaches: $6,400 each / one varsity community coach: $4,200 for a total of $81,000
• Ninth grade head coach: $4,900 / two ninth grade assistant coaches: $3,300 / one assistant ninth grade coach: $2,700 / two ninth grade assistants: $2,200 each / ninth grade community coach: $2,200
• Varsity strength coordinator: $3,700
• Varsity defensive coordinator: $2,700
• Varsity special team coordinator: $2,200
• Offensive coordinator: $1,700
• OHS football coaching supplements / salaries totals $116,075
• Baseball head coach: $6,400 / one assistant: $3,300 / one assistant JV community coach: $2,700 / ninth grade head baseball coach: $2,200 / JV head coach: $2,200 / JV assistant coach: $2,200
• Basketball boys head coach: $6,400 / JV head coach: $2,700 / varsity assistant $2,700 / ninth grade community coach $2,200 / ninth grade head coach: $2,200
• Boys track head coach: $6,400 / one assistant community coach: $1,700 / one assistant: $1,100
• Cheerleading varsity head coach: $6,400 / assistant $2,200 / ninth grade head coach: $2,200
• Flag football: $3,300 / two assistants: $2,200
• Girls basketball varsity head coach: $6,400 / varsity community coach: $3,300 / JV head coach: $3,300 / JV assistant $2,200 / varsity assistant: $2200
• Girls track head coach: $6,400 / two varsity assistants: $2,200 / one varsity assistant community coach: $1,700
• Golf head coach: $3,300
• Boys soccer head coaches: $6,400 each / boys JV coach: $2,200 / boys assistant: $1,700
• Girls soccer head coach: $6,400 / girls JV $2,200 / girls varsity assistant $2,200 / girls assistant community coach: $1,700
• Swimming head coach: $2,000
• Tennis varsity head coach: $3,300 / assistant: $1,700
• Track and field (girls and boys) assistant head coach: $3,800
• Volleyball varsity head coach: $6,400 / varsity assistant: $1,700 / two JV assistants: $1,700 each
• Wrestling head coach: $6,400 / assistant coach: $2,200 / community coach: $2,200
As you can see by this list, it costs money to run a 7A high school athletic department. It is worth noting the supplements can be divided and split between coaches.
It is obvious that Opelika is committed to athletics based on the salaries listed above.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.