Looking to increase his role and responsibility in a football program, Jacob Alford left his hometown for a chance to reverse the fortunes of Livingston. He has been hired as the offensive coordinator to help guide the Lion attack.
Alford graduated from Lindale High School, then took his playing career to East Texas Baptist in Marshall. He spent two years coaching in Sulfur Springs, four years in Melissa, and the previous five back at Lindale, where he was able to coach his younger brother.
At Lindale, he was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator, while also serving as head powerlifting coach. He has experienced success as an assistant, coaching in the state championship game in 2020.
Last year, the Eagles were 6-6 overall and 3-3 in District 9-4A, but had several highlights along the way. The coach knows Livingston’s District 10-4A better than most. The two districts meet in the bi-district round of the playoffs, and Alford needed to be familiar with upcoming postseason possibilities. Fourth-place Lindale was able to defeat 10-4A champion Little Cypress-Mauriceville, 49-21. The Bears went undefeated during league play last year and were riding an eight-game winning streak going into the game.
There were several factors that drew Alford to Livingston, but the first he listed was new Livingston Athletic Director Tucker Carter.
"I've known Coach Carter for several years and he called me with an opportunity to come in here and take the next step when it comes to a leadership role within a football program," Alford said. "He offered me the job of offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. I have goals of being an athletic director, and what better opportunity than to go somewhere that needs to have a turnaround? After seeing Livingston on film and some of the kids that they have in the football program here, I felt like with the right guys in place and maybe a fresh start for some of the kids, maybe we would be able to turn this thing around and create some excitement and positivity."
Alford and Carter will share the offensive play calling duties for the Lions and have already constructed an offense with input from both.
"It is going to be a good mix of my flavor to the offense and what he has done previously," the coordinator said. "We spent a lot of time this summer hashing things out and getting on the board to talk through his ideas and my ideas, and how they blend together. It is going to be a pretty good mix, I think. Coach Carter is a very intelligent football mind and that is another reason why I took the job. I am excited to learn from him through his process of game planning and the approach to calling plays on a Friday night.
"There's not a more genuine person that you're going to talk to. What you see with Coach Carter is what you get. He's going to tell you the truth, but he is also a good-hearted person. When it comes to competition, he is a fierce competitor. From a leadership standpoint and as somebody who aspires to be an athletic director, that is how I want people to view me."
Alford was quick to say the Lions will look different than they have in the past.
"We are going to base out of some 11 personnel (a running back, a tight end and three receivers) and some spread out looks. Some people think that means we're going to sling the ball around the yard, and there will be probably more of that than what people have seen here in the past. We have our fair share of good run game stuff that we feel good about too. I would say it will be a little more multiple and a little more unpredictable, but ultimately doing what we can do to put our kids in the best possible position to succeed."
After looking at film, the coach believes he will have some weapons offensively. He likes the experience on both sides of the line, and has been impressed with the ball carriers, citing their ability to fight for yardage.
When the Lions have experienced successful seasons offensively, it began with an improved offensive line. Alford said if his unit is to reach their goals, that will be the case again this year.
"I have coached offensive line every year of my career. I have been around the quarterbacks and backs and heavily involved in the run game, but the offensive line is where I believe the games are won offensively. I will be coaching those guys on a daily basis, and it doesn't matter how good your skill position players are, if you can't block, there's not much good that is going to come from that. In the past couple of years, they haven't thrown the ball as well, but I also don't think that was their style of offense.”
Though the coaches have sketches for a plan of attack, those plans could change if not successful.
"Ultimately, as a high school football coach, one of the biggest challenges is year-by-year figuring out what your players can do the best. You can't fit a square peg into a round hole. We have our ideas and going into the year, the offense may evolve into something that could look a little different based on what we're doing well. That is one thing I pride myself on as an offensive football coach and I feel like Coach Carter is the same way. We are going to adapt and do what we need for our kids to be successful. I think we can shock some people if our kids can gel and start buying in to what we're trying to accomplish.”
Alford will also assist in track and field, leading the throwers. In the classroom, he will teach physical education and coach junior high and high school athletics. He has an old friend that has shown him around Livingston, and the return to Polk County is a reunion of sorts for his wife.
"Andrew Boyce is a buddy of mine and I've known him for a long time. He has told me about Livingston and how nice the community is. Coming here, he has kind of shown me a couple of good places to eat and we have played golf at the course a couple of times, so it has been nice. My wife actually worked at Camp Cho-Yeh in college, so it is kind of a full circle moment for her. There are still some people that work out there that she knows and remembers from those days."
The goal is to bring a winner to the Lions on the gridiron, and Alford thinks the right people are in place to do just that.
"We're hoping that we can bring some pride and positivity to Livingston football, and we're excited about the opportunity we have ahead of us. We are going to coach them hard, but none of us would be here if we didn't think we could turn this around. We are going to do everything within our power to get it right and turn it into a consistent winning program."
