By By Matthew Nascone
Some dreams really do come true.
Atmore native Doug Vickery Jr. can attest to that following Thursday afternoon's Escambia County Board of Education meeting in Brewton when he was hired to fill the role of head coach at Flomaton High School.
"It has always been a dream job for me since I know a lot of people there and I went to school at Flomaton," Vickery said. "It is neat to go back home and I hope I can help turn this program around. I will be working together with the players and their parents to turn this program around."
Vickery said he knows the job will involve more than prepping his coaching staff for a new season, but earning the respect of his players.
The 36-year-old Vickery attended school at and played football for Flomaton in 1985-86 during his freshman and sophomore years of high school. He attended Escambia Academy his junior and senior years.
Vickery graduated from Troy University in 1993 and he began his coaching career while a student at Troy. He was an assistant coach at Goshen High School from 1991-93.
Following graduation from Troy he was traveled north to Bob Jones High School in Madison and served as an assistant for a year.
In 1995 he landed his first head-coaching job at Ariton High School and left for Coffeeville High School the next year for another head coaching job.
After doing some time as an assistant coach at Monroe County High School in 1997, Vickery was named the defensive coordinator at Washington County High School in Georgia where he served in that role from 1998-2001.
From Washington County Vickery made his final stop before receiving the opportunity to come home to Flomaton High School. He was the head coach of Florala High School from 2002-05.
"I am excited to come home, I have been here at Florala for four years and it has been great, but to go home is so exciting," Vickery said.
The move back to south Alabama is what Vickery said will be good for his family.
"I have small children and this move will bring us closer to grandparents and that is always a good thing for a child," he said.
Vickery and his wife, Leah, have three boys and one girl. The boys are Tripp, 9, Cade, 8 and Zeb, 2. The lone girl is 4-year-old Avery.
Vickery said he is looking forward to the chance to help a program rebuild and get better.
"I am excited about developing the players who are already there and instilling good character in those guys," Vickery said.
Many people were on the receiving end of thanks from Vickery.
"I would like to thank Mr. Buck Powell and the board of education for giving me this opportunity," he said. "I would also like to thank Mr. Scott Hammond, who is the principal at Flomaton, and most of all, I would like to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ, who has guided me in the right direction."
Vickery will take over as the head coach for the 2006 football season.