Patrick Nix takes over Pinson Valley football program

New Pinson Valley football coach Patrick Nix met with his new team for the first time Jan. 27.

“How many of y’all are nervous? Raise your hands,” Nix asked his players in a meeting in the school auditorium. He raised his own hand. “If you don’t have some nerves, something’s wrong with you.”

That’s how Nix began addressing his players, none of whom he’d met before that day. 

He emphasized he wanted the players to shake his hand and repeat their names every time they met. One player he knows for sure is one coming with him from Scottsboro, four-star quarterback Bo Nix, his son. He also has a son, Caleb, who’ll be an eighth-grader.

He said after the meeting that he wasn’t looking to leave Scottsboro, which he led to a 12-1 season last year. He said he was contacted about the position.

Nix said the Birmingham area, job opportunities for his wife, who is a nurse, and simply a chance to have an impact on a new school and new community all went into his decision.

“It had a lot more to do with the off-the-field stuff than on-the-field about the job,” he said.