Change brings challenges, excitement to Russellville football as Higgins era begins

It’s commonly said that change can be difficult, hard to accept. 

However, as the 2026 football campaign kicks off, that doesn’t appear to be the general mood around Russellville High School’s program, where plenty has changed in the last eight months.

One major change the Golden Tigers have made has been at head coach.

Following the departure of Dustin Goodwin after two seasons, in January the Russellville City Schools Board of Education brought in Darrell Higgins, a four-time state championship-winning coach from Mars Hill with a CV as long as your arm.

Plenty has been printed on that already, but needless to say, that change went down pretty well, bringing a boost of excitement to the program.

A head coaching change usually brings with it a change in culture, as well. Again, no problems there either. Just ask the players.

“It’s been tough, but it’s been great,” senior defensive lineman Aiden Hamby said of the Golden Tigers’ offseason training under Higgins. “We’ve developed so much, we’re getting stronger, we’re getting faster, we’re building more grit, and we’re learning how to win no matter what happens.”

“I think Coach Higgins is a great coach, and the rest of the coaching staff, they’re amazing to us,” senior offensive lineman Sam Wilson added. “I feel like it’s going to be a great year this year, and I just thank Coach Higgins for getting us better every day.”

In the same way, Higgins appreciates the hard work and attitude his players have brought in each day this offseason.

“There are a lot of what I call ‘my kind of guys,’” Higgins said. “Just hard-working guys that like to clock in, get to work, be a great teammate, support each other and have a lot of fun while we’re out here working.”

Another big change has come with the AHSAA’s reclassification and realignment, something that simultaneously played a large role in bringing Higgins to Russellville and will present more challenges on the field.

Many schools have dropped down a classification but not Russellville, which remained in Class 5A. Instead, bigger schools that Golden Tiger fans remember playing regularly 10 or 15 years ago—old rival Muscle Shoals, Florence, Athens, Hartselle—have come down to play with RHS again in the new Region 7. East Limestone, Decatur and Austin round out the region.

With the exception of East Limestone, all the other teams in Region 7 dropped down from 6A or 7A—and saw success while they were there. 

Here the difference for RHS is less in the name of the opponents and more in the level of competition those opponents will be bringing week in and week out. In reality, Russellville’s region over the last few years presented few challenges that meant the Golden Tigers were in any real danger of missing the postseason. There will be much more competition for the region’s four playoffs spots this year, so to secure one of those Russellville will have to bring its ‘A’ game every Friday.

To their credit the Golden Tigers are embracing this challenge.

“In my eyes this region is one of the toughest regions in the state, but I love competition and I wouldn’t want to face anybody that’s not the best,” senior linebacker Keifer Hallmark said. “I think we can compete in this region.”

Hamby contributed his thoughts, as well:

“I think a lot of people are underestimating us. I think they don’t see the work that we’re putting in. They believe we’re just going to lay down, but we’ve been taught and we’ve been learning how to win it all no matter what.”

Of course another change but an annual one is in personnel. 

Turnover on the defensive side of the ball wasn’t too bad. The Golden Tigers’ two leading tacklers from last season, linebackers Keifer Hallmark and Braxton Duncan, are both back, as are sack leader Patrick Johnson and interceptions leader Darron Jones. Senior Romario Francisco and junior linebacker Zade Hester, who missed some games last year due to injury, are back, too.

On the offense, though, Russellville graduated nearly every starter at a skill position. Returnering starters on that side of the ball include running back Tarus Davis, back for his senior season, and some experienced members of the offensive line. 

But the most important position on the field, quarterback, will be different from a year ago. Senior Tripp Cleveland will be behind center for the Golden Tigers, and although he has little varsity game experience at that position, Cleveland has impressed his new head coach this offseason and has the full confidence of his teammates who voted him a permanent team captain for this campaign.

“Tripp is an outstanding quarterback,” Higgins said. “From the day he stepped out on the field and started throwing it, it’s been exciting.

“He’s a leader, he’s tough, and he brings a lot to the table.

“My son Peyton played receiver at Troy for the last five years, and as soon as he saw him throw he said he looks like those quarterbacks they had at Troy,” Higgins added.

As they’ve done for most of the last 30 years, the Golden Tigers will kick off the 2026 season against Deshler in what will be the 100th meeting between the two programs. The series dates back to 1923. Russellville currently trails in the series 47-48-4 but can get back to .500 with a home win over the Tigers on August 21.

The following week Mars Hill, Higgins’ former team, will travel to Golden Tiger Stadium.

It is an interesting coincidence that Higgins’ first two opponents as RHS head coach will be against his two former teams—he was an assistant at Deshler for over two decades—but for Higgins it’s nothing more than just that: a coincidence.

“It’ll be exciting. Every game is exciting to me. Those are teams I just happen to have some history with to start right off the bat,” he said. 

“I can’t wait to get out there and play. It doesn’t really matter who it is—Mars Hill, Deshler, whoever—we just want to play,” he added.

Russellville begins region play in week three with a road game at Hartselle, followed by its region home opener vs. Florence and another road region game at East Limestone. On September 25, the Golden Tigers will play their last non-region game of the regular season at Class 2A defending champion Coosa Christian. RHS will then host Muscle Shoals and travel in consecutive weeks to Athens and Decatur before wrapping up the regular season at home against Austin on October 23.

For the Golden Tigers, there’s been no shortage of changes heading into 2026, but there’s also been plenty of excitement about what those changes can potentially bring down the road. Still, a new coach, a new-look region and a new quarterback leave room for questions about what the Golden Tigers can do this season. Russellville will get its first chance to start answering them Friday night against Deshler.