HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- New Alabama A&M football coach James Spady will not retain the nucleus of the coaching staff he inherited when he was hired last week, including a coach with nearly a half-century relationship with the university.
The freedom to structure his staff as needed within budgetary limitations was one of the assurances given Spady by director of athletics Bryan Hicks, who said he would have no influence on Spady's decisions.
Most notably, Brawnski Towns, who came to Alabama A&M as a player in 1965 and spent 34 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, was not retained. Towns was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Anthony Jones and worked for nine head coaches, including the legendary Louis Crews, who recruited Towns to A&M as a defensive back.
Others not retained are offensive coordinator and interim head coach Cedric Pearl, defensive line coach Gary Harper, receivers coach John McKenzie, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Jay Martin, secondary coach Knute Walker and kicking coach Richard Williams; the latter two were part-time coaches.
Spady will keep tight ends coach and video coordinator Andy Fuller as well as strength and conditioning coach James Hester and equipment and operations manager Henry Harris.
Last Friday, after he was introduced to media and Bulldog fans, Spady said that he had a list of assistant coaching candidates but would first meet with the current staff. The assurance he needed from the holdovers, he said then, was to assure they would be dedicated to the message of the new offensive philosophy.
Two incoming assistants were in transit on Tuesday and two more have committed to Spady and will come to A&M later in the month. Spady would not reveal the names of new coaches until they have the opportunity to meet with their current employers.
"My strategy is to surround myself with people I've coached with or coached, or who came recommended to me by coaches with whom I have a relationship," Spady said. "I want somebody who will carry my message and philosophy. I made the decision to bring in guys that are more comfortable to me.
"But this was a difficult thing. These guys (incumbent staff) are all good coaches. It was nothing personal."
Spady said he will meet with A&M players on Wednesday morning.
Towns coached the secondary at Alabama A&M after he completed his playing career, then spent eight years at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before returning to A&M in 1984. He was named defensive coordinator in 1989.
Pearl was at A&M for 11 seasons as offensive line coach, being named offensive coordinator in 2007. He played collegiately at Tuskegee and came to A&M from Morehouse, where he worked for Jones.
Harper spent one season at Alabama A&M but was a 28-year veteran of coaching. He had been assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Benedict College before coming to A&M.
Fuller, a Huntsville native and former Auburn standout, played seven years with the Tennessee Valley Vipers, a time in which he also worked as a graduate assistant at A&M before being promoted to tight ends and fullbacks coach.
Martin, son of the late Jim Martin, the former Alabama A&M director of athletics, spent 12 seasons on the football staff and for three seasons was also the school's head baseball coach. He played at Tuskegee, then coached at South Carolina State before coming to A&M.
McKenzie came to Alabama A&M in 2009 to coach receivers and oversee the academic program; A&M had the top APR in the conference. The former Jackson State quarterback had been offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T, Alabama State and Alcorn State as well as head coach at Delaware State.
Walker, who earned Hall of Fame honors as an A&M cornerback, was an assistant for nine seasons and also served as assistant director of intramurals at A&M.
Williams, who has also coached at Lee High School, served as kicking coach on part-time status.
Hester, who came to Alabama A&M in 2002, was credited by Pro Bowl linebacker Robert Mathis for much of his development. He is the strength and conditioning coach for football, men's basketball, volleyball and softball. He previously worked at South Carolina and South Carolina State.
Harris, a former All-SEC defensive lineman for Georgia, has been affiliated with the A&M program for 23 years, first as defensive line coach for eight seasons, then as equipment and operations manager.
COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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