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Shep Skanes, a 33-year veteran of the football coaching fraternity, is entering his first season at Fairfield High Preparatory School as the new head coach, hired in January of 2022.

Coach Skanes is also known as Pastor Skanes. He has been the pastor at Faith Deliverance Overflow Ministries in the downtown Birmingham area for the last 6 years.

Skanes brings a wide and varied experience to the Fairfield football program, having coached at both the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels as well as at the High School level. Well-traveled in his coaching career, the Alabama native has had coaching stints at Concordia College-Selma, Morehouse College, Lane College, and Miles College.

Known as an offensive specialist, Skanes has coordinated offenses and coached quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and special teams. As a position coach, his well-prepared, highly motivated, and effective units have received high regional and national rankings.

As a Head Coach, Skanes turned Concordia into a powerhouse school where he received six coaches of the year awards, five conference championships, and one HBCU independent national championship. Skanes also helped direct Miles College to its third consecutive Western Conferences Championship in 2021.

Skanes attended Phillips High School (86) and Concordia College Selma (07) with a B.S. in Business Admin.

Coach Skanes is married to the former Debra Patton; they are the parents of five children, four sons, and one daughter, with 13 grandchildren.