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Opelika Names Jonathan Chandler Head Football Coach Pending Board Approval

A board vote this afternoon could finalize the hometown alum’s return to lead the Bulldogs.

Overview

  • Opelika City Schools announced the hire Wednesday morning in a press release, with the Board of Education set to consider approval at 4:30 p.m. and an official introduction planned afterward.
  • Chandler, an Opelika graduate, previously spent nearly a decade in the program in roles that included coaching and community engagement, and later served as an assistant at Pike Road and Wetumpka.
  • He leaves Montgomery Catholic after one season as head coach, a move the school acknowledged publicly through its athletic director.
  • In 2025, Chandler guided Montgomery Catholic to an 8-5 record and a Class 5A quarterfinal appearance in his first year as a head coach.
  • Opelika is coming off a 10-4 season and a Class 7A championship game loss to Thompson, and Chandler follows Bryan Moore, who resigned Dec. 19 after going 19-7 over two seasons.