A Father/Son Coaching Dream Come True

When one envisions places where dreams come true, thoughts often turn to some exotic foreign land or maybe a place like New York, Los Angeles, Hawaii, or even Disney. In the wonderful and sometimes strange world of football, dreams can come true in the unlikeliest of places, say maybe a place like Jacksonville, Alabama. This is the story of a football family that is enjoying a lifelong dream unfolding right now in East Alabama.

Jimmy Ogle was Knoxville, Tennessee to the core. Born and raised in the home of the Tennessee Volunteers, Ogle graduated from Bearden High School in 1991 where he was a linebacker, tight end, and long snapper. He took his snapping skills across town to walk on for the Tennessee Vols from 1991-93, and became a student assistant and stayed on staff for Head Coach Phil Fulmer and Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe from 94-97 working with quarterbacks and tight ends. He stayed in Knoxville and coached at Central High School of Knoxville in ’98-99. “In college I knew I wanted to be a coach. I was at Tennessee with great players like Peyton Manning and Todd Helton. I coached under Phil Fulmer, David Cutcliffe, and Randy Sanders. They made me the coach I am today,” said Ogle. As a new century dawned, an opportunity to coach college football again presented itself at Jacksonville State University. “I 100% did not know anything about JSU or Jacksonville, Alabama. Coach Fulmer and Coach Cutcliffe talked to Coach (Jack) Crowe at JSU and I came down to Jax State to coach tight ends.” Ogle would stay on staff at JSU for 21 years, meet and marry wife Kaci in 2004, see daughter Abbie graduate from Jacksonville High School in 2017, and will see son Jim graduate in 2024. Ogle served as tight ends and running backs coach, until moving up to Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator in 2014.

When then JSU Head Coach John Grass moved over to Clemson in 2021, Coach Ogle landed at Jacksonville High School as Offensive Line Coach. The same high school where Jim was a rising junior quarterback for the 2022 season. Coach Ogle states, “I always dreamed of coaching Jim. I was secretly hoping to get a chance to coach him in college. I never dreamed I would get the chance in high school. It is truly a blessing to have this time with him. I am thankful to Coach Smith (JHS Head Coach Clint) and Coach Edwards (JHS OC Jamison) for bringing me into their family and giving me the opportunity. We are just grateful we did not have to move and could stay in Jacksonville. This time has brought us all closer together as a family.”

The younger Ogle, like most coaches’ sons has known nothing but football his entire life. Jim was born on a Tuesday and was at a JSU game (sleeping) on that Thursday night. He began playing football as early as 4. He started off in youth league play as a defensive end, but after practice one day the coach wanted to try him at quarterback. “I have always dreamed of playing on Saturdays. I had been around college players, big crowds, games on television. By my freshman year, I really wanted to play at the next level,” says Jim. His dad says, “He always wanted to play football. He did not play video games or with toys, it was always all ball-baseball, football, basketball. When he was smaller it was whatever sport was next, but football took over as he got older. When he was 9, 10, 11 years old he went on road trips with us, watched film, went to walk-throughs with the JSU team. Since he was 6, he has always played quarterback. He would spend hours in the yard throwing the ball with anybody that would throw with him.” All of that work, time, and effort has paid off. Jim has thrown for just two yards short of 6,000 yards and 65 touchdowns with his Senior year still to come.

He is committed to play FBS football for Troy, who finished in the Top 25 in 2022.

So now that Jim and Jimmy are on the same team, what does that relationship look like on a daily basis at practice and games? Coach Ogle says, “I told Coach Smith I did not want to coach QBs. Coach Edwards is the OC and calls the plays. I do my best to let Coach Edwards handle Jim, I just try to be there to help. Edwards and Jim have a great relationship and had been together for 3 years before I came. Coach Edwards and I are good friends and work well together.” In games it can get crazy sometimes. Coach Ogle said, “There are times I know I go crazy when Jim does something good. When something bad happens, I try to give both of us a chance to calm down and fix the problem. It is a fine line between being a coach and being a dad. You can cross that line quickly.” Quarterback Ogle says, “If he sees something in a game, he will make a suggestion. Both Coach Edwards and my dad work well together and both have helped me and our offense. The best part is when I do something I shouldn’t I know he will get on me, but also give me a hug after the game regardless of the outcome. That hug is from a dad, not a coach.”

The best memory so far of father coaching son was the Alexandria game at Lou Scales Stadium in Death Valley to open the ’22 season. Coach Edwards became sick the day of the game and was forced to stay at home and miss the game with the Golden Eagles’ arch-rivals. That meant Coach Ogle had to step up and call the plays. Jim had a great night and Jacksonville won the game 24-10, avenging a 42-6 loss just a year before. Coach says, “I hate that Coach Edwards was sick, but you could have given us a million dollars and we would not have been happier on that night.” Jim agreed, “Dad called me to the office the day of the game and told me Coach Edwards was sick and that he would have to call plays that night. He teared up and it was just a memorable moment. After the game he gave me a big hug and the entire team surrounded us and cheered us on.”

With Jim’s Senior season looming, it is not lost on either Ogle how special this time in life is. Coach Ogle summarizes, “I 100% never thought I would have the chance to coach him. No matter how this year turns out, we will have made our name proud. I am going to be sad when it is over. A lot of people work 9 to 5 and come home and never get to spend time together with family. Having my family there on Friday nights is special. It has been real fun and I hope this will be a special year for him and I know it will be for me. It is my hope that Jim knows now, and will always know, that this was the best time of my life”

Jim shares the same sentiments, “I thought it would be cool to maybe play for him in college, but never dreamed I would play for him in high school. It took me off guard. It truly is a blessing. We prayed about it, but I cannot describe it. It does not seem real. It has been a blessing for me, him, and our family. At Picture Day we stayed and talked afterwards. Time truly does fly by. Nothing will ever compare to having fun and playing with your friends, and my dad coaching me-this is the year that I will remember forever.”

Who knew that Jacksonville, Alabama was a place where dreams come true….? ►