CULLMAN, Ala. – After helping lead the Bearcats to a school-record 137 wins, two undefeated regular seasons and the most successful seven-year run in program history (2007-13) during his 17-year tenure, former Cullman High School Head Football Coach Mark Britton was recognized and honored for his accomplishments and contributions to the Bearcat football program at Tuesday night’s City School Board Meeting. Starting this season, the Bearcats will play their home games in Oliver Woodard Stadium on the newly named Mark Britton Field. The field will be formally named at Cullman’s varsity home opener against Jasper Aug. 26. There will be a recognition ceremony prior to kickoff at approximately 6:45 p.m. A reception will be held in the south end zone beginning at 5:45 p.m.
“I couldn’t begin to estimate the number of students and student athletes that Coach Britton had a positive impact on. Coach Britton was so many things to many different people, in terms of a coach and mentor,” Cullman City Schools Athletic Director Mark Stephens said of his impact. “Coach Britton had a way of tough love, but I cannot remember a day that his players left without him telling them he loved them. Coach Britton also held his players accountable both academically and for their behavior in school. He was always a phone call, text message or email away from helping our teachers and administrators with a student who might need guidance.”
Britton feels honored and blessed to receive this recognition but wants to make sure all those who worked with him and all those who played for him know the part they played in his legendary career at Cullman. Britton mentioned four things he is most proud of from his time on the sidelines with the Bearcats.
“I may get credit for our record during my tenure, but I had great assistant coaches and I had great players during my career. There are four things that I am happy to be associated with during my years as head coach of CHS.
1. CHS has had 4 undefeated regular season teams in school history
1962 team 10-0-Coach Woodard
1985 team 10-1 Coach Cook
2007 team 13-1–SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS IN SINGLE SEASON and
2009 team was 12-1–second highest single season wins—Coach Britton’s Staff.
2. From 2007-2013 (7 seasons) our record was 70-20–We averaged 10 wins a year—best run in school history for 7 consecutive seasons.
3. Coach Woodard’s 1972 team finished 11-2 and was state runner-up. The 11 wins at the time was a single season school record for wins. Our staff was able to tie the 11 wins with the 2008 team (11-3), we went (12-1) in 2009, and the 2007 team went (13-1) for the Current School Record for most wins in a single season.
4. CULLMAN HIGH FOOTBALL has a 24-30 record in playoff games in school history and our staff had 16 of those wins. Those are very difficult wins to obtain, and I am very proud of our players and staff for those wins.”
Britton feels humbled seeing his name next to Coach Oliver Woodard’s and had a lot of people to thank when thinking about his 17 years at Cullman. Most of all, he wanted to thank his family for the sacrifices they’ve made, their contributions to the program and the support they’ve shown him.
“I am very moved and humbled for putting my name next to Coach Woodard. There are many folks that are involved in our past success. I benefited from great administrators during my tenure along with great booster club leaders and members—but more importantly I had great players and great assistant coaches that sacrificed personally for our teams during my tenure. I believe that I had some of the best coaching staffs in the state—from our middle school staff that gets our players in the program and teach those young players the fundamentals—to our offensive and defensive staffs that had our student-athletes prepared every week. We had a great video staff that prepared films of our games and practices which was invaluable. Last group but extremely important group was our trainers—very dedicated and kept our players safe during our seasons.
I personally benefited from the contributions from all of these great, great people whose combined efforts allowed us to be successful for my 17 years as head football coach.
Lastly, I would like to thank my wife Patti and my children—Patrick, Matthew, and Meaghan that were all involved in the program through the years—but all gave me great support through the years—good times and bad times. I have been very blessed!!! Thank you, Cullman, for your support through the years.”
Copyright 2022 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
