Former West End High and Tuskegee University star Justin Hannah is the new head football coach at Mobile’s historic Murphy High School.
Hannah, 35, was officially approved by the Mobile County Board of Commissioners at their monthly meeting Monday morning.
He replaces John McKenzie, who left after one season to take the head coaching job at Paul Bryant in Tuscaloosa.
“I’m thrilled,” Hannah told AL.com about his first head coaching opportunity. “I’m looking forward to this opportunity and everything it brings. I’m looking forward to molding and cultivating student-athletes to be better players on the field and better people off of it.”
Hannah spent the 2022 season as defensive coordinator at Jackson-Olin. He also has coached at Shades Valley and at his alma mater, Tuskegee, under Will Slater.
“I think Justin is the perfect fit to come in behind our first-year administration, move this program forward in the right direction and build on what coach McKenzie started last year,” Murphy athletic director Edwin Burke said. “I think he has that same type of mentality that will benefit us here.”
Hannah planned to meet the Murphy team later this afternoon.
At West End, Hannah played football, basketball and ran track. He was a 2006 All-State football selection and once tied a state record for interceptions in a single game. The defensive back finished his college career with 18 career interceptions and three touchdowns. He was a four-year starter for the Golden Tigers and a three-time All-American. He was inducted into the Tuskegee Hall of Fame in 2011.
After first pursuing a pro career with the Cleveland Browns and the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, Hannah played six years in the Arena Football League before turning to coaching.
“The opportunity at Murphy came up, and I was excited to hear about it,” Hannah said. “I thought it would be a good fit. I have some family in Mobile and wanted to shoot my shot. I was told there were a lot of good candidates for the position. I’m just ready to learn as much as I can about the players, community and administration and get going.”
Hannah said his message to the team would be clear.
“I want to introduce myself to the players and let them know they will be coached by a winner, by a champion, by a Hall of Famer,” Hannah said. “Most importantly, their coach will care about them as a person and a student-athlete.”
The Panthers went 2-7 last year under McKenzie. Murphy last made the playoffs in 2019 and last won a playoff game 2011.
Murphy plays in the tough Class 6A, Region 1 which includes reigning state champion Saraland, reigning region champ Theodore as well as Blount, Spanish Fort, McGill-Toolen, St. Paul’s, Baldwin County and Robertsdale.
Ad Choices