Tom Calvin

A native of Athens, Alabama, Tom Calvin was born June 13, 1926 and grew up on a farm on the outskirts of town. After a stellar career at Athens High School and service in World War II, Calvin developed into a determined runner for the Crimson Tide teams from 1948-1950. He was drafted in the 25th round of the 1951 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers refused to give him a guaranteed contact so he remained in school and took the head coaching position at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, leading the Tigers to a 7-2-1 record. Several months later, Art Rooney, changed his mind and made a call to Calvin offering him a deal he decided to accept which was an $8,000 a year contract. He played fullback and returned kicks with the Steelers for four seasons (1952-1955). Tiring of the cold weather, Calvin headed south and accepted the head coaching job at Sylacauga high school in 1956. His 1957 team finished the season with an 8-0-1 record and won his first State Championship as awarded by the Birmingham News for Class AA District 3. The 1960 and 1961 Aggie teams won back-to-back state titles. Calvin led the Aggies to 15 straight winning seasons, including the Class 3A State Championship in 1969. His Aggie teams also won 12 county championships. Needing a new challenge, he moved on to Decaturs Austin High School in 1978 and quickly transformed the long underachieving Black Bears into winners. His 1983 team reached the Class 4A state finals. That squad finished the regular season undefeated and lost to Murphy 7-0 in the championship game at Legion Field. Following the 1988 season at Austin, Calvin would retire from the day to day duties as a head coach. His overall record was 201-130-11 in 33 seasons. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1991 and was named state Coach of the Year three times including 1982 by the ASWA. He served as the President of the Alabama High School Coaches Association in 1991. He later returned to the coaching ranks as a volunteer assistant at West Morgan. Calvins wife, Lenette is also in the AHSAA Hall of Fame for her career coaching girls sports. He is a member of the Limestone County and Morgan County Hall of Fame.