American Christian Academy has found its next head football coach in Austin Grammer, Head of School Stephen Hooks told The Tuscaloosa News on Thursday.
“Austin is a graduate of ACA and was an outstanding player at ACA from 2009-2012, leading the Patriots to deep playoff runs,” Hooks said in a statement. “Most significantly, Austin is an amazing person and educator who brings a wealth of academic acumen along with a love for Christ that issues forth in a discipling heart.”
Grammer previously served as interim head coach of the boys basketball team at ACA during the 2023-24 season, leading the Patriots to a runner-up finish in Class 4A. He served as the ACA high school principal in 2024.
Grammer was a three-sport athlete at ACA, playing football, baseball and basketball. He went onto play football and baseball at Middle Tennessee State University before playing using his final year of NCAA eligibility playing football at West Alabama.
“I feel like ACA is kind of woven into the fabric of who I am and how I was raised,” Grammer told The Tuscaloosa News. “I was an ACA graduate. I played all the sports but I think just because football carried me into college that program specifically means the world to me … Kind of a full circle moment to be able to step into those shoes. Means a ton to me personally.”
Grammer becomes the 11th head football coach in ACA history, replacing coach Cody Martin who resigned in November after spending four years leading ACA.
ACA finished the 2024 football season 3-7 overall and 3-4 in 4A, Region 4 play for a fifth-place finish. It was the Patriots’ first losing season since 2016 and first without a playoff bid since 2014.
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Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X @annaesnyder2.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama high school football: Austin Grammer named head coach at ACA
