Higgins: Practicing each day to ‘standard we expect’ key to Golden Tigers’ gridiron success

For Russellville High School varsity football coach Darrell Higgins, the first two weeks of the upcoming 2026 season will reacquaint him with the only two schools comprising his 22 years’ coaching experience.

The Golden Tigers’ season begins Friday, August 21st with Deshler traveling to Golden Tiger Stadium for the 100th game between the teams.

It’s been a very even series, with Deshler holding a slim 48-47-4 edge over the Golden Tigers.

On August 28th, Russellville will host Mars Hill Bible School, where Higgins served as varsity head coach the past 10 seasons, becoming the only Alabama high school varsity football coach to win state championships at three different classification levels. Higgins’ former team also has an active four-year win streak over the Golden Tigers.

Higgins, though, isn’t concerned which programs stand on the opposite sideline from Russellville.

Since he was hired in January, Higgins’ focus has been on completing his coaching staff and instilling a football culture where every aspect of the program, from practice to performance, falls in accord with the standards and expectations expected from coaches and players alike.

“There is a certain way we expect our guys to play, act, coach and compete,” Higgins said. “And we’re working toward that standard every day in practice, so if we don’t play up to that standard, it will be disappointing.”

When it comes to deciding on his starting lineup, Higgins will rely on that same standard, with no advance promises about playing time.

“I don’t care where you came from last year or who started where. Decisions about starters will be practice and performance based,” Higgins said.

“Everything is in place here for success. The community is very supportive of everything to do with the school system. And there are a lot of expectations because of all the tradition and history that’s part of this wonderful school system. With the facilities we have and the backing we have from our administration, there’s no excuses not to go out and put a good product on the field,” he added.

A solid, successful athletic program also requires that standard to be achieved at all levels in all sports. Toward that end, coaches organized summer group workouts that include athletes from football, basketball and baseball coming, with more than 100 kids working together at one time.

“We’ve been doing that all summer long. Coaches from all sports are coaching every kid out there, no matter what sport they play or coach in,” Higgins said. “It’s about building a mentally and physically tough athlete who’s going to be pushed.

“The kids are all spread out into groups of different grades and levels, so all kids get to be around each other. It’s Russellville kids together, all working for the same cause—to be the best they can be,” Higgins added.

Multi-sport participation will be encouraged, something that’s been a source of conflict at times with Golden Tiger athletics.

“We’re the smallest 5A school in the new realignment, so for us to have a chance to compete with Florence, Muscle Shoals and schools with so many more numbers, our kids need to do everything possible so they can help that team.

“We encourage every kid if they can play something else to do that and help that other team work toward the same goal. High school is a time to enjoy sports. You can specialize later on if you play at the next level, but enjoy your high school time and play as many sports on as many teams as you can,” Higgins said.

From Mars Hill, both of Higgins’ sons went on to play Division I football (Peyton, who joins the Golden Tiger coaching staff this season, played at Troy and Hudson is a freshman on the University of Alabama Birmingham football team).

At Mars Hill, Peyton earned All-State honors in baseball three times and Hudson won four gold medals in track, as both competed year-round in other sports.

The Golden Tigers’ first test will come on Thursday, August 13th when they travel to Winfield for a Jamboree game.

The Jamboree will serve as a measuring stick for Higgins and his staff to determine which players have progressed the most toward the standards expected of them.