Legendary coach Glenn Daniel captured his first state football title in 1951 at Pine Hill High School

Former Pine Hill coach Glenn Daniel.

Alabama high school football coaching legend Glenn “Moe” Daniel, age 95, passed away on April 3. Daniel was widely known for his storied success at Luverne High School, but many forget that he got his head coaching start in Wilcox County.

Daniels, a native of Selma who spent 38 years at Luverne, is perhaps best known for becoming the first high school football coach in Alabama to win 300 games, finishing his career with a 302-169-16 record. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1991 and was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also a World War II veteran and played basketball at the University of Kentucky under legendary coach, Adolph Rupp.

In the summer of 1947, while finishing his college degree at Livingston University, Daniel took his first head football coaching job at Pine Hill High School in Wilcox County. According to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, Daniel spent eight seasons as Pine Hill’s head coach, from 1947 to 1954. His overall record at Pine Hill was 41-36-2, which included a 10-0, state-title season in 1951.

Pine Hill, in its first season under Daniel, went 1-9 in 1947, which was the school’s first season of football after a four-year break due to World War II. Their only win that season was a 6-0 victory over Dixon Mills. Top players for Pine Hill that season included team captain John Morgan, Harold Green, Charles Moore, Chester Morgan, Glenn Morgan and Legrand Morgan.

The Pine Hill Bulldogs went 4-6 in 1948, defeating Dallas County, Uniontown, Selma High School’s “B” Team and Coffeeville. Of the games they won, two of them were shutouts. Top Pine Hill players that season included Billy Autrey, Henry Criswell, Dabney Gaddy, Harold Greene, Bill Harrison, Charles Moore, Bubber Morgan, Burch Morgan, Glenn Morgan and Bob Williams.

In 1949, the “West Wilcox Boys” of Pine Hill continued to improve under Daniel, posting a 5-5 overall record with wins over Dallas County, Uniontown, Billingsley, Orrville and Linden. Top players for Pine Hill that season included Ralph Averitt, Billy Autrey, Woodie Beck, Ralph Berry, Daniel Champion, Charles Daniels, Billy Dickson, Roy Freeman, Jack Gaddy, Harrel Green, Bryant Harris, Bill Harrison, Jimmie Huggins, Bennie Clyde Jordan, Eddie Megginson, Gaddy Megginson, Beatty Morgan, Ed Morgan, Russell Morgan, Claude Parker, Harold Phillips, W.H. Phillips, Ed Raybon, Bobby Rickets, Frank Shamburger, Charles Sheffield and Grover Tyler.

In 1950, Daniel’s Pine Hill team posted the school’s first winning season since 1939, going 7-4 overall with wins over Dallas County, Uniontown, Francis Marion, Sweet Water, Marengo County, Beatrice and archrival Wilcox County. Pine Hill’s 56-13 win over Wilcox County on Nov. 16 gave Pine Hill the county title that season and was Pine Hill’s first win over their Camden rivals since 1942. Harold Phillips was one of Pine Hill’s top players that season and was named to the Montgomery Advertiser’s all-state football team for his outstanding play at guard.

The 1951 season at Pine Hill was arguably the finest in school history as the Bulldogs ran the table, going a perfect 10-0 with shutout wins over Uniontown, Francis Marion, Sweet Water, Frisco City, Autaugaville and Wilcox County. In fact, the Bulldogs only gave up 32 points all season and were named the Class A state champions by The Birmingham News. Top players that season included all-state back Billy Autrey, all-state back Jack Gaddy, all-state end Bryant Harris, all-state center Bud Ricketts, Eddie Megginson, Beatty Morgan, William Rankin, Ed Raybon, Bobby Ricketts and Morris Twilley.

Pine Hill’s 1952 season saw the Bulldogs go 5-3-2 with wins over Coffeeville, Uniontown, Sweet Water, Silas and Hicks Memorial. Top Pine Hill players that year were all-state end Bryant Harris, all-state end Morris Twilley, Don Autrey, James Berry, John Champion, Bobby Daniels, Don Gaddy, Luther Gaddy, Bob Harris, Gene Harris, Glenn Harris, Eddie Henson, Chester McConnell, Billy Moore, David Morgan, Terry Morgan, Coleman Morton, Harold Phillips, Bobby Ricketts, Lomax Sealy, Douglas Smiley and Horace Thomas.

In 1953, Pine Hill went 4-6 overall with wins against Coffeeville, Isabella, Silas and Autaugaville. Top Pine Hill players that season included all-state back Douglas Smiley, Eddie Andress, Don Autrey, Rogers Autrey, James Berry, Gene Finley, Don Gaddy, Luther Gaddy, George Green, Jack Green, Glenn Harris, Henry Harvell, Eddie Hinson, Chester McConnell, Billy Moore, Gerald Morgan, Selden Morgan, Coleman Morton, Darrell Nettles, Henry Nettles, T.E. Pearson, Harold Phillips, Lomax Sealy, Billy Sheffield, Troy Smith, William Smith, Horace Thomas and Don Wilkinson.

In 1954 – Daniel’s final season at Pine Hill – the Bulldogs went 5-4 overall, defeating Uniontown, Francis Marion, Orrville, Autaugaville and Wilcox County High School. Daniel’s final game at Pine Hill was a 34-7 victory over rival Wilcox County at Pine Hill on Nov. 12, 1954. Top players for Pine Hill that season included all-state back Douglas Smiley, Don Autrey, Glenn Harris, Luther Gaddy, Jack Green, Henry Harvell, Ed Henson, Billy Moore, Billy Nettles, Henry Nettles, T.E. Pearson, Lomax Sealy, Bob Smiley and Don Wilkinson.

After his time at Pine Hill, Daniel moved on to Luverne, where he won the 2A state title in 1992. He retired the following season. The stadium at Luverne, just a few blocks from his home, is named in his honor.