Cottrell out at Alma Bryant

Ronnie Cottrell hopes to remain in coaching in Mobile County, but he won't be at Bryant High.

Cottrell said Bryant Principal Doug Estle informed him Monday morning that he was being "released" from his duties as the head football coach and athletic director. Cottrell has been at the Bay ou La Batre school for 17 months, compiling a 7-13 record on the football field.

"To say I was taken aback is an understatement," Cottrell said in a Monday night phone interview. "We had a lot of young people playing, but we were making progress. I love this place."

The Hurricanes lost 51-20 to Foley last week, ending the season with a three-game losing streak. Bryant missed the playoffs in both of Cottrell's seasons.

Last year, 16 Bryant players signed college scholarships, and Cottrell said a similar number will likely sign in February.

With Cottrell's departure, Bryant's next coach will be the school's seventh since it opened in 1998. No coach has ever stayed at the school more than four seasons.

Estle took over at Bryant this fall, arriving from Murphy High in midtown Mobile. Efforts to reach Estle on Monday night failed.

"I understand. He's building a team, and I'm not going to be a part of that team," Cottrell said. "It's an awesome place to live. ... I would like to stay in Mobile County."

Cottrell now has a career record of 58-51 in 10 seasons as a high school coach, according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society.

He came to Bryant after a two-year stint at Carroll-Ozark, where he went 9-12 and made one playoff appearance. He had previously coached at Kinston, Flomaton and W.S. Neal in the 1980s.

Cottrell also spent time in the collegiate ranks, including stints as an assistant coach at Florida State and Alabama.

/cut/2/cCHIP ENGLISH/Speical to the Press-RegisterBryant football coach Ronnie Cottrell was relieved of his duties Monday by the school principal. Cottrell compiled a 7-13 record in two seasons with the Hurricanes.