Chad Applin took Faith Academy to the Class 5A state runner-up spot in 2017.
By ARTHUR L. MACK
Faith Academy boys basketball coach Chad Applin has resigned to take the job at Spanish Fort High School.
Applin, who coached the Rams for seven years, took over for Jimbo Tolbert, who left for the Gulf Shores job.
Applin said the opportunity to coach at Spanish Fort was too good to pass up.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Faith Academy,” he said. “I wanted to take a step in another direction. The Lord presented another opportunity.”
Applin said he found out about the Toros’ opening by accident.
“I was at a golf tournament in Gulf Shores and when I found out Jimbo had taken the Gulf Shores job, I reached out (to Spanish Fort) to see if they were interested,” he said.
Applin had four 20-plus-win seasons at Faith Academy, including a 22-9 record in 2017 as Class 5A state runner-up and a 24-10 record in 2018. In his final season, Applin went 18-12 and lost to Vigor in the area tournament.
Prior to his stint with the Rams, Applin was an assistant coach at Randolph from 2014-2016. He was also the head freshman and varsity assistant at St. Paul’s from 2010-2014 and head varsity coach at Cottage Hill Christian Academy from 2003 to 2010. His 2005 team won the AISA title and finished 25-2.
Applin is a UMS-Wright and University of Mobile graduate.
Joey Nieves was named Applin’s successor at Faith Academy.
