The Calera Eagles have a new head football coach, athletic

director Robert Burdette confirmed Monday.

The news comes following the resignation of first-year head coach Lanny Jones and the hiring of Calera resident and Hoover ninth-grade coach Mac Thompson.

&8220;Coach Jones did not give me a reason for his resignation,&8221; Burdette said. &8220;Mac Thompson interviewed with us in the spring after coach Adams left. He was considered for the job then, and out of all the people we interviewed the second time around, he was our top prospect.&8221;

Thompson said he was excited about having a chance to coach at Calera and hopes he can bring excitement to Eagle football.

&8220;I’m excited about working with people in the community,&8221; Thompson said. &8220;We want to build a tradition at Calera that is like the Eagles’ football dynasties of the &8216;70s and &8216;80s.

Burdett said he felt Thompson’s coaching style coming from a highly competitive Hoover Bucs program would aid the Eagles.

&8220;He wants to bring fast-break football to Calera,&8221; Burdett said.

&8220;Having worked at Hoover and knowing what they do, Coach Thompson will be able to do a lot for Calera football.&8221;