John McKenzie coached Vigor to a 14-1 finish and the Class 4A state championship in 2021, the fourth state title in school history. (Call News file photo)
By ARTHUR L. MACK
MOBILE — Three years after delivering a state championship but leaving the school under murky circumstances, John McKenzie has returned to Vigor and said he couldn’t be happier about it.
McKenzie, who led the Wolves to the Class 4A state football title in 2021, will coach Vigor for a second time after the Mobile County School Board approved his hiring on July 24.
“I’m overjoyed,” McKenzie said. “I’m happy I was able to come back. I love the Mobile County Public School System and Vigor. When you’re at a big-time program, it can really boost your career. You can have a lot of opportunities. Even though I’ve been with the players only two days, I like the attitude of the players. They’re working like champions.”
Mobile County School Board member Reginald Crenshaw said McKenzie will also serve as the school’s athletic director and assistant principal in charge of discipline.
“Vigor’s fortunate to get its former head coach,” Crenshaw said. “The kids are glad to have him and the school is glad to have him.”
McKenzie also confirmed that former Mobile Christian star linebacker Kentonio Kelly, the state’s leading tackler in 2023, has stated his intention to transfer to Vigor. McKenzie said he planned to do a home visit with Kelly and make sure there are no issues with the transfer.
McKenzie was 19-6 in his two years with the Wolves, including a 14-1 finish in 2021 in which Vigor outscored the opposition 517-181, including a 52-14 trouncing of Oneonta in the Class 4A championship game.
Two months later, McKenzie was placed on administrative leave. The reasons for McKenzie’s removal were never revealed but in June 2022 he was hired to take over at Murphy, where he was 2-7 in his only season before moving on to Paul Bryant High, where he was 3-7 last season.
“He left the system in good standing,” Crenshaw said.
McKenzie played at national high school power Miami Central, college football at Jackson State and spent most of his coaching career in the college ranks, including a three-year stint as head coach at Delaware State.
“I had a tremendous run at Vigor,” McKenzie said at a press conference announcing his hiring at Murphy on June 27, 2022. “Vigor was a great school. Everything was exceptionally well. A lot of you guys don’t know my wife was kind of ill, had some medical crisis, and I had to take some time off. It was a great opportunity to get my wife back to health and I was just so thankful that Vigor, as well as Mobile County, gave me that opportunity.
“Vigor was great. State champs. You can’t get any better than that. I was pleased to be at Vigor. Sometimes you are there for a season. Sometimes you are there for a reason.”
McKenzie replaces Markus Cook, who was fired earlier this summer after going 12-7 in two seasons.
