Marengo Academy has found its replacement for retiring head football coach and headmaster Robby James.

Gary Caldwell will take over the program after spending 2014 as the defensive coordinator at Faith Academy.

Caldwell has had success as a head coach in the AISA, winning the 2001 state championship at Monroe Academy with a perfect 13-0 season. In four seasons with the school, he compiled a 41-8 record.

His first head coaching job came at Wilcox Academy from 1994-1996, then he moved to Morgan Academy from 1996-1999 where he was the offensive line coach under James.

After his stint with Monroe Academy, he rejoined James at Faith Academy as the defensive coordinator, where the team finished as state runners-up in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

From 2009-2011, he served as head football coach and dean of students at Faith. He went 7-23 in three years as the head man of the Class 5A program.

Caldwell is a 1980 graduate of Foley High where he played football, basketball and baseball. He attended Patrick Henry State Junior College where he played baseball. He finished his education at the University of South Alabama where he earned a B.S. in Physical Education and Health.

He also coached baseball and basketball at Monroe Academy. He served on the staff at Foley High prior to his Wilcox tenure. Caldwell served as the offensive line coach under James from 1996-1999 at Morgan Academy. Caldwell later served as James’ defensive coordinator at Faith Academy.

After stepping away from varsity football for three seasons, Caldwell returned as the defensive coordinator of Faith Academy for the 2014 season.

Caldwell and his wife of 26 years, Paula, also a math teacher at Faith Academy, have three children: Chris, Ashley, and Logan. Currently Chris is a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army as a Drill Sergeant. Ashley is the assistant cheerleading coach at Troy University, while pursuing her Master’s Degree. Logan is a freshmen at Faith Academy where he plays varsity football and baseball.