By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

ALABASTER – Kingwood Christian School athletic director Steve Birmingham was named the Lions’ head football coach March 14.

The head coaching position became vacant after Bob Spurgeon resigned recently during a meeting with the KCS administration. Spurgeon has been a part of the Kingwood football program for more than 10 years, including the past two seasons as head coach.

“Coach Spurgeon has built a good foundation,” said Birmingham on Spurgeon’s time as head coach. “We are going to take it from there and build on the foundation that he has built.”

Birmingham was hired at Kingwood last spring as the spring sports coordinator. In the fall, Kingwood promoted Birmingham to the athletic director position. Birmingham was the head junior varsity coach and assistant football coach at Restoration Academy before coming to Kingwood. He helped start the Garywood Christian program in Hueytown for six years and was the offensive coordinator at Flint Hill Christian before going to Restoration.

Birmingham said that he is ready to take hold and take the Lions’ football program to the next level.

“I believe that God has prepared me through running a business and my coaching experience for where I’m at right now,” he said.

Birmingham added that he sees the football program at Kingwood is a ministry where he can focus on the spirit, mind and body of those involved.

After officially taking the reins, his immediate goals include a “total evaluation of the program from equipment to the players.”

Birmingham said that the players at Kingwood are excited to have him as the head coach.

“I have heard nothing but excitement,” said Birmingham. “People are excited that we have direction.”