Former Oak Mountain head football coach Jerry Hood was hired Thursday as the new head football coach and athletic director at Clay-Chalkville High School. He will replace Brent Smith, who resigned after a two-year run as head coach and 9-12 record. Smith was named the new head coach at Corner High School on Thursday, according to reports.

Hood helped start Clay-Chalkville’s football program from 1996-98, serving as an assistant coach for wing backs, linebackers and strength and conditioning. Hood worked at Clay-Chalkville Middle School teaching physical education and health before leaving in the spring of 1999 to join Toney Pugh’s staff at Oak Mountain when the school opened in 1999. Pugh was the first head coach at CCHS.

Hood took over for Pugh in 2004 at Oak Mountain and compiled a 28-26 record as head coach from 2004-2008, including a run to the Class 6A semifinal in 2005. Hood resigned at the end of the 2008 season.

A meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon for Hood to meet with his players in Clay.

“We’re going to go over and present our plan and get the kids going and see if we can do them a good job out there,” Hood said. “It’s a community that wants some stability in the athletic program. They’ve had a little bit of turnover. I’ve been at Oak Mountain for 10 years, so I’m not a mover. I think everybody there is looking forward to making the place a type of place where we’re competing every year.”

Hood will be Clay-Chalkville’s sixth head coach as the program will enter its 14th season this fall. He will officially begin his position April 1.