Congratulations are again in order for Shelby Academy head football coach DeWayne Kervin.

Not only did his team win the AISA Class A State Football Championship for the second time under his leadership, but Kervin was recently named the Alabama Independent School Association Coach of the Year for Class A.

This marks the fifth time Kervin has won Coach of the Year honors in AISA football. He was selected for the honor in Class 2A in 1992 and 1997 and for Class 1A in 1998, 2004 and this year. His previous state football championship came in 1998 in Class A as well.

Anyone who reads my column no doubt knows that I admire coach Kervin and the football program he has put together at Shelby Academy.

He continues to turn out winning football team after winning football team. And two of his players made the AISA All-Star team this year, including Cody Wilson and Rick McBride.

But the thing I respect about Kervin and the Shelby Academy football team is that they are never arrogant or flashy. They go about their business in the no-nonsense, old-fashioned way.

And Kervin is never afraid to admit that sometimes it takes a little luck to be a winner.

&8220;I appreciate it,&8221; coach Kervin said of his latest title. &8220;It&8217;s an honor being chosen by other coaches.&8221;

But in his ever-modest way, Kervin shows why he is Coach of the Year material. &8220;I don&8217;t know how you ever decide who the best coach is,&8221; he said. He said sometimes the guy who does the best job doesn&8217;t always have the best season.

Kervin has always been humble when it comes to awards. One would never know that he is already in the AISA Football Hall of Fame. He received that honor in 2003.

He has an overall record of 176-114-1 in football.

He first came to Shelby Academy in 1979 when he served as head basketball coach, assistant football coach and as a history teacher.

He became head football coach in 1981 and has served as head master at the school since 1982. If you&8217;re counting that means he&8217;s been a head football coach for 25 years.

How much longer will Kervin coach? He said that&8217;s a good question. He recently told me he&8217;s got some young guys coming along that make him want to coach at least another four years.

Of course, being modest, Kervin indicated he would never outstay his welcome.

I guess Kervin has always been special to me because he is one of the few coaches in this county that I have known or at least covered for almost 30 years.

I believe his longevity goes hand in hand with the standard of excellence he sets for himself and others while keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

Congratulations again, coach Kervin