UAB great joe webb takes over as head coach of jackson-olin high school

Photo by Ken Shepherd

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 9, 2024

Coaching high school football was always part of the life plan for Joe Webb III. The fact that it’s beginning now for the former UAB and NFL quarterback, however, “came out of the blue.”

Webb is about 10 days into being the head football coach at Jackson-Olin High in Ensley. He is four days into his first spring practice, which culminates with the program’s Green and Gold game on May 17.

Jackson-Olin fell after hard times after Tim Vakakes, who was 49-45 in nine seasons at the school, left for Spain Park High following the 2021 season. Jamaal Bess led his team to a 4-7 record in 2022. However, just before the 2023 season began, Bess, an Army Reserve soldier, was deployed overseas. Walter Jordan took over as the interim head coach and the Mustangs finished 0-10.

Webb said he called in December to see what Jackson-Olin was doing with the head coaching spot. At the time, he said, the plan called for Jordan to return. Two weeks ago, the 37-year-old Webb received a call asking if he was interested in the job.

“I always said when I was done playing, if I was to do any type of coaching it would be high school,” said Webb, whose 10-year NFL career ended in May of 2021. “The reason being is to put guys in good position to set themselves up for the future. This is my way of giving back. This is my way of touching lives to help the younger generation. It was on my heart. Once the opportunity came to me, it just felt right. I just felt like it was time.”

He didn’t say anything about it being easy. Webb said there were 5-10 players at workouts before his arrival. In about a week, Webb drummed up enough interest that 50-60 players showed up for the first week of spring practice.

“I’ve been in the hallways recruiting, getting guys to come on out and go to workouts,” Webb said. “They’re buying in. I told them who I am, the ones who didn’t know. You know, a lot of them have parents that I went to school with them, played ball with them, whatever. Their parents know me.”

He said his hallway message is straight forward.

“First, I ask him his name,” Webb said. “I ask him if he wants to play ball. I ask him where he sees himself in the future, does he have a plan. You know, a lot of these kids don’t have a plan. They’re just going day by day. I tell them a little bit about my story, where I came from and things like that, so that will give them good motivation, knowing they see someone in person who made it out.”

Obviously, he didn’t have a lot of time to plan his first spring practice as a high school football coach. In a way, though, his preparation began a long time ago.

“I always talked to the coaches, whether it was my quarterback coach or offensive coordinator to pick their brain on how they did things while I was playing ball,” said Webb, the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 at UAB. “I kind of had an idea of how to schedule practice, how to put together a script with plays and things like that. My experience from playing ball, talking to coaches and just being around the game, gave me an idea how to operate.”

Webb said he’s been encouraged by the first few days of the spring. He’s developing the quarterbacks but is pleased with the receivers and the defense. He’s also adjusting to life as a head coach with little experience.

“The plan, initially, of course was to build my way up,” Webb said. “That’s the initial plan. I did a little stint as a head coach last year, I know it’s not high school, but I coached (youth) ball for my son’s team last year. I got a little experience as far as the whole coaching deal. That helps. In my initial plan, it was maybe get my feet wet, maybe get an OC job somewhere and build my way up. This fell in my lap, man. I had to take the opportunity to jump on it.”