2019 Panther Coaches & Staff
Varsity Coaches
Mark Fleetwood, Head Coach
Coach Mark Fleetwood is in his 3rd year at Huntsville High. His first year at Huntsville High, Coach Fleetweed led the Panthers to the first round of the Alabama High School Association State playoffs - the first time since 2013. Additionally, nine of Coach Fleetwood's seniors class of 2018 signed to play college football.
He comes to Huntsville High from Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Ga. where his teams made the playoffs five out of six years compiling a 41-27 record.
Coach Fleetwood grew up in Decatur, Ga. where he attended Lakeside High School and played for the legendary Wayman Creel. Fleetwood attended the University of South Carolina from 1979-1983 and was a three-year starter as a placekicker where he earned a B.S. degree in Distributive Education. He also has a Masters degree in Education Administration from Jacksonville State University.
Fleetwood was a free agent selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 1984. Coach Fleetwood is entering his 32nd year in the coaching profession. His career has included coaching stints at Jacksonville State University, Troy University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Habersham Central High School, The Citadel, Cartersville High School and Peachtree Ridge High School.
Coach Fleetwood is married to former Kimberly Gilmore of Eufaula, Alabama and they have a daughter, Irelan, who is a graduate of Huntsville High, class of 2018.
Chris Hancock, Defensive Coordinator
Coach Hancock has been coaching for 17 years and is beginning his third year at Huntsville High School. He started his coaching career at Riverton Middle School as a football, softball, and baseball coach for three years. He spent the next nine seasons as a defensive line coach, defensive coordinator and head football coach at Buckhorn High School and was an assistant coach for the 2005 State Runner-up Bucks football team. He spent one season as defensive coordinator at Sparkman High School before taking the Columbia High School head football coaching position where he spent three years. He is a graduate of Jacksonville State University and played for the Gamecock football program. He teaches Engineering at Huntsville High School. He is married to Susan Denney Hancock, and they have a 14-year-old daughter Macy Claire Hancock.
Lamar Gibson - Offensive Line
Coach Gibson is beginning his 2nd year at Huntsville High School. Coach Gibson has received his Bachelor’s from Troy University and Master’s from Luther Rice in Biblical Studies. He has been married to Megan Gibson since 2012. Coach Gibson is excited about coaching the O-line this year.
Terrance Young - Corners
Coach Young graduated from Munford High School and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Alabama A&M University. He is beginning his 18th year at HHS and is currently teaching Geometry. He is also the Head Track and Field Coach. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Alecia McNeal, from Talladega, Alabama. They have three boys; twins, Terrant and Terrell (15 yrs. old) and Tyson (11 yrs old)
John Barnes - Running Backs
Coach Barnes enters his 4th year teaching and coaching running backs at Huntsville High. He previously coached at Columbia High School for two years where he coached wide receivers and defensive backs. He received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Alabama, his teaching certificate through Athens State University, and his Master’s degree in Social Studies Education from the University of West Alabama. While at the University of Alabama, Coach Barnes worked in the Athletic Department for the football team assisting with coach's film, recruiting film and football equipment. While there, he was an integral member of three National Championship teams and two southeastern Conference Championship teams. Coach Barnes is a 2008 graduate of Huntsville High School. He is married to the former Brooke Word of Boaz, and together they have a 3-year-old Black Lab named Jackson.
Matt Franks - Safeties
Coach Franks is entering his second year as the safeties coach at HHS. He graduated from East Limestone High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from Birmingham-Southern College. He played four years of football under Head Coach Eddie Garflinkle at BSC where he was an All-Conference safety and team captain. He also teaches Psychology and US History at HHS.
Matthew Humphries - Linebackers
The University of North Alabama. M.A.Ed. 2019
The University of North Alabama. B.S. Secondary Education. 2010
Coach Humphries is entering his 12th year of coaching, and his 2nd season at Huntsville High School. He serves as a Social Studies Teacher, Linebackers Coach, and Head JV Softball Coach. He has previously coached at James Clemens, New Hope, Shades Valley, Brooks, and Russellville High School. As the Defensive Coordinator at New Hope, Coach Humphries helped lead the Indians to a region championship and their first playoff victory since 1994. Coach Humphries is an experienced coach in other sports as well. He has served as the Head Coach for Golf, Track, Baseball, and Soccer at previous schools.
Coach Humphries graduated from the University of North Alabama, where he was also a member of the UNA football team for the 07-08 football season. Coach Humphries is a 2005 graduate of Russellville High School where he helped lead the Golden Tigers to 3 consecutive state championship appearances. He is happily married to Brooke Humphries and they are excited for a great year! Go Big Red!
Joshua Bailey - Tackles
Coach Bailey is from Arab, Alabama and graduated from Arab High School in 2011. After graduating high school, he had the opportunity to play football at Alabama A&M and Jacksonville State University. Additionally, he served as chaplain of the Kappa Alpha Order while in school at JSU. After graduating from JSU in 2017 with a Major in English and a minor in History, he returned to complete his Master’s degree in Secondary Education. While completing the program, he served as a long term substitute English teacher and football coach at Pinson Valley High School. On July 5th, 2018, his family welcomed a daughter, Lucy Ann Bailey into the world, and she is the light of his life. For the 2018-19 school year, he served as an 8th grade English teacher as well as varsity football and wrestling coach at Springville High School. He completed his master’s degree in May of 2019 and is looking forward to a new opportunity at Huntsville High School this year. He will be teaching 10th and 11th grade English at Huntsville High and will be serving as varsity football coach and junior varsity girls’ basketball coach. He’s extremely grateful for the opportunity to work in the Huntsville Community. Go Big Red!
Jaron Norfleet - Defensive Line
Coach Norfleet grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee where he attended Brentwood High School. While at BHS he lettered all four years on the football team. After graduating, he received a full-ride football scholarship to The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he played Defensive End all four years. He moved to Huntsville in 2011 and married his wife, Kimberly, in 2016.
During his time in Huntsville, Jaron has coached 8U & 10U Little Panthers, along with assistant coaching at HJHS during the 2018-2019 season.
Jaron loves the game of football and working with young athletes to help them achieve their, all around, full potential. He looks forward to coaching and building lasting relationships this year, as the defensive end coach, at HHS.
Jacob White
Coach White is a native of Florence, Alabama where he attended the University of North Alabama. He graduated with a degree in Physical Education. He has coached for four years at Shoals Christian School as an assistant football and baseball coach. At Shoals Christian, he coached wide receivers and defensive secondary in football and pitchers in baseball.
