Bill Sparks

William L. "Bill" Sparks attended Jones Valley High School where he played baseball, a sport which would bring him great joy and achievement. Sparks obtained a Bachelors Degree from Samford University in 1958 and later earned a Masters Degree from Auburn University. Bill Sparks began his coaching career in 1959 at Phillips High School in Birmingham where he was an assistant coach in football and track, and head coach of the baseball team. In 1964, Coach Sparks moved to Ensley where he served as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach. In 1969, he became head football coach, leading the Yellow Jackets to four consecutive winning seasons and a 1970 appearance in the Crippled Childrens Clinic game. After 11 seasons at Ensley, Bill Sparks accepted a position at Midfield High School. He served as assistant principal and head football coach for the Patriots. At Midfield, he inherited a football program which had endured four straight losing seasons. However, with patience, understanding, and a superior knowledge of the game, he turned the program around over the next 16 years. His teams suffered only two losing seasons and he sent six teams to the state playoffs. Sparks Patriots advanced to the quarterfinals in 1985, winning a then school record 10 games during the regular season. Coach Sparks left coaching to become principal after the 1990 season. His overall football record is 137-92-3, with 104 of those victories coming at Midfield. Sparks also left an indelible mark due to his achievements in baseball, with an overall record of 327-120, a state championship in 1988 and five county championships. He was a head coach for the East-West All-Star game, and he was coach of two American Legion championship teams. He served two terms as AHSAA Central Board president before retiring as Shelby County school superintendent. Coach Sparks was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame at its 10th annual induction ceremony held on March 20, 2000.