Goodwin: ‘No regrets’ about returning home to lead Demopolis football program

Although his two-year stint at Russellville didn’t end the way he wanted, Dustin Goodwin has no regrets about returning to Demopolis High School to lead his alma mater’s varsity football program.

Goodwin’s last official day with Russellville City Schools was January 16th. The Demopolis City Schools Board of Education formally introduced Goodwin as its new varsity football coach January 15th, also introducing former RHS varsity football coach Mark Heaton as the new Athletics and Facilities Director for Demopolis City Schools the same day.

Goodwin was hired as Russellville High School varsity football coach in the spring of 2024 following the resignation of John Ritter. The Russellville City Schools Board of Education then hired Goodwin as athletic director before the 2024 school year began.

Goodwin’s two year record leading the Golden Tigers was 14-9, 1-2 in playoff games. Russellville finished as 5A Region 7 runner-up in 2024 and 2025.

Any time a coach leaves for another job, it can be an uncertain time for players and assistant coaches, but Goodwin had a plan how he wanted to handle the transition.

Goodwin wanted to personally let his players and coaches know about his decision to leave Russellville, but as news of his departure spread across the community like wildfire earlier this month, it didn’t allow for the smooth closure sought by the young coach.

Russellville City Schools Superintendent of Education Tim Guinn said Goodwin told him he was leaving for the Demopolis job on Monday, January 5th, the same week he accepted the Demopolis job, and that Goodwin intended to use vacation days through his final day of employment, January 16th.

RCS Board members were also taken by surprise with the news their football coach, who was hired at Russellville from a pool of applicants that included some championship pedigrees, would be resigning effective immediately.

A knowledgeable source confirmed to the FFP that Goodwin gave board members no indication he was considering another job until the week of January 5th, after he received a verbal job offer from Demopolis.

Goodwin declined to provide specifics, but he takes issue with suggestions that he didn’t inform RCS officials of his plans.

“I tried to give everyone a heads up administratively and I put a plan in place to do this the right way,” Goodwin told the FFP. “But, obviously the news got out faster than I would have liked for it to and I wanted my players and coaches to hear it from me first. Unfortunately, some other people had some other plans and, well, it is what it is. 

“But I definitely wanted my coaches and kids to hear it from me though, not from hearsay around town,” he added.

Goodwin returns to a program he graduated from in 2003, where he earned All-State recognition in football and baseball. His father Doug coached Demopolis for eight seasons, including a state championship in 2004. 

In addition to his two years at Russellvillle, Goodwin served as varsity head coach at Plainview and Chelsea High Schools. His composite record as a head coach is 50-48.

Anticipating the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s reclassification announcement on January 23rd, some have speculated Goodwin wanted to leave before Russellville was placed into what could be a challenging 5A region that includes former rivals Muscle Shoals, Cullman, Decatur and others. But Goodwin reiterates he wasn’t looking to leave and realignment isn’t a factor.

“This decision has nothing to do with realignment or whether Russellville is placed in a more competitive region,” Goodwin said. “We’ve talked all along that all we can do is coach the best we can and maximize the ability of the players we’ve got and other things are out of our control. 

“We believe in and love our kids at Russellville and we still do. And whoever they decide to take my place, everyone is replaceable. I hope they find someone who can build off some of the good we were able to do and fix some of the bad,” he added.

Goodwin moved to Demopolis at the end of his eighth grade year when his father took the reins of the varsity football program there. His ties there remain strong, as his wife Sara’s parents still call Demopolis home.

“I’m very connected to Demopolis. Of course my in-laws are here and we spend a lot of time with them hunting and fishing,” Goodwin said. “And we will be able to do things on a week night that we’ve not been able to do with the exception of 3-4 times a year to this point. It’s the first time since 2013 we’ve had family in the same town where I’m coaching and we’re really excited about that.”

Sara, a guidance counselor for Russellville City Schools, will join her husband in Demopolis later this spring and the family’s four children will eventually all be enrolled in Demopolis City Schools once the family’s Russellville house is sold and the move can be finalized.

Things happen fast in coaching, as opportunities come and go rapidly, and unexpectedly. But Goodwin believes he made the decision based on God’s plan for his family.

“This wasn’t something I had intentions of doing and it hasn’t been easy to leave. Our kids were upset. Heck, I was too. I wish I could take every one of them with me, players and coaches alike, but that’s just not the way this business works,” Goodwin said. 

“As time goes on, most of them understand and have reached out through texts to offer some encouragement. The fact is I didn’t chase after this opportunity. If we planned to leave we never would have purchased a home in Russellville. 

“But I felt like God’s been calling me to do this for quite some time now. I really believe we were led to come home by God and this is a true Homecoming,” Goodwin said.

The varsity football coaching job was posted on the Russellville City Schools’ website after Goodwin met with his players and coaches, Guinn said. Choosing not to comment on how Goodwin’s departure unfolded, Guinn is instead focused on moving forward and finding the right fit in a new coach who wants to lead the Golden Tiger football program.

That evaluation process is underway, with news expected soon as to who will take over the Golden Tiger program, regardless of where the AHSAA places the school or who Russellville finds in its region the next two years. Goodwin hopes to have a new coach hired this month and a special board meeting would be called once he selects a candidate to recommend.

“We are moving forward immediately with finding a new varsity football coach. We are confident we’ll find the right person to lead this program and that will get done as soon as possible,” Guinn said.