School Spotlight: Hoover High School

Hoover High School is a public school in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, AL. The schools colors are orange, black, and white with their mascot being dubbed the Buccaneers. Hoover competes in the AHSAA Class 7A athletics. Hoover is the largest high school in the state of Alabama. Some notable alumni of Hoover High School are Marlon Humphrey (Ravens CB), George Pickens (Steelers WR), Sidney Spencer (Former LA Sparks and PHX Mercury), and John Parker Wilson (Former Alabama QB). Hoover has won 13 State Championships and 5 since 2012 (2012-14, 2016-17). Wade Waldrop has only been head coach for 1 season at Hoover, and has already participated in a 7A State Semifinals.

Coach Wade Waldrop has been a head coach for 16 years. He spent his 2013-2021 seasons at James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama. Clemens was a brand new High School with only 1 year of football experience when he first took the job. Coach Waldrop turned Clemens into a playoff team within 3 years, becoming arguably the best team in Northern Alabama during his tenure. Coach Waldrop then spent 1 season at Florence High School in 2021. Florence looked to Coach Waldrop because they had not been very successful in the past. Hoover’s program has been an amazing place for a long time and Coach Waldrop could not pass up this opportunity. Coach’s biggest challenge of taking this job was to replace a guy who has been there for 16 years and won 5 state championships. This year Hoover lost their very first game to Auburn High by 3 points, the eventual State Runner-Ups, starting a fourth string QB. Hoover then won 11 games in a row, including 2 of them being playoff games. Hoover eventually fell short of the State Championship game, falling to the eventual State Champions, Thompson High.

Maintaining the expectations and excellence of the precedents that the school set in the past and connecting with the players are some things that Coach Waldrop would like to continue to strive at. Hoover signed 13 Football players on signing day (2 more football guys went on track scholarships).5-6 more players will sign in next coming weeks. Coach Waldrop, ultimately, is looking to build off of last years success and win a State Championship Game.

Here are some of the players to look forward to for next year’s Hoover squad:

#7 Bradley Shaw is a class of 2024 Middle Linebacker.

#14 Jonah Winston is a 5’10” 150 lb class of 2026 Quarterback and Wide Receiver. He is also the younger brother of current Saints Quarterback Jameis Winston.

#14 Jeremy Cook is a 6’2″ 182 lb class of 2024 Free Safety and Wide Receiver.

#6 Jordan Woolen is a 6’0″ 160 lb class of 2024 Wide Receiver.

#10 Noah Schuback is a 6’0″ 180 lb class of 2026 Quarterback.