For the third time in the last four seasons, Tuscaloosa County (AL) will be looking for a new head coach for its football team.
On Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19, the Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY network, reported that the school had parted ways with Cris Bell following Friday night's 62-7 loss to top-ranked Thompson (AL), the No. 8 team in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings.
The loss dropped Tuscaloosa County to 0-5 on the season as they've been outscored 279-14 during that stretch. In three of their losses, the Wildcats were shutout and they gave up 42 or more points in each game.
In a release from principal Darrell Williams to the parents, he announced the decision to part ways with Bell and named Defensive Assistant Matthew Carden
as the interim head coach for the rest of the season.
“Our primary focus and top priority currently is ensuring that we continue to support and care for our current players," Williams wrote. "We all know this season has been challenging, and we are hopeful that our players will be able to return healthy and ready for the second half of the season. To provide stability for our team, Coach Carden will serve as our interim head coach for the remainder of the season while we begin the process of identifying a permanent head coach.
...I want to assure you that I will do everything in my power to find the best leader for our football program and school community. As we begin this search, we will be looking for someone who is a strong relationship builder with players, parents, staff, and the community. We want a coach who will motivate, inspire, and develop young men both on and off the field while creating a culture that reflects the values of Tuscaloosa County High School."
Bell was in his second season with the program and had posted a record of 1-14. The team’s lone win under Bell came in the 2025 season finale as they beat Paul Bryant (AL) 28-7.
Prior to his brief stint at Tuscaloosa County, Bell had been at Robertsdale (AL), where he went 2-8 in his lone season at the school. Before that he coached at Scottsboro for three seasons and from 2012-2020, he coached at Oak Mountain, posting a 47-49 record.
In his 15 years as a head coach, Bell has a record of 68-86.
The Wildcats have not made the postseason since 2014 and have not posted a winning record since 2022. Since Adam Winegarden's departure following the 2023 season, the program has won just two games posting a 2-23 over the last three seasons.
Tuscaloosa County has this week off and will return to the field on October 2 as they host Vestavia Hills (4-1).
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama high school football coach fired following winless start to 2026
