LOXLEY, Alabama — The Baldwin County School Board voted unanimously Thursday morning to hire Adam Winegarden for the athletic director/head-football coaching position at Fairhope High.

Winegarden, 34, who resigned as AD/head coach of Hillcrest High in Tuscaloosa pending Baldwin BOE  approval, will replace David Faulkner who coached the Pirates from 2009-11. 

The board called the special meeting to consider Winegarden at the request of Fairhope District BOE representative Robert Callahan, Jr. Waiting for the next scheduled meeting on Feb. 23 would have imposed an undue burden on the nearly 500 spring-sports student-athletes at Fairhope whose competitive schedules are already, or about to be under way, he said.

“The Fairhope community is very appreciative,” Callahan said. “The need to have an athletic director on campus at this time of year is paramount. This is the busiest time of year.”

He added that speeding up the transition benefitted both Fairhope and Hillcrest as well as Winegarden and his family.

“Anytime you speed up a process like this, the better it is for all concerned. Hillcrest is now going through what we were earlier but now they and coach Winegarden don't have to wait another week. Now we can all move on."

Winegarden took over at Hillcrest in 2010 and led the Patriots to a 9-2 season and a school-record 12-straight wins last fall until losing to Hoover 21-14 in the quarterfinals of the 6A state playoffs. His 2011 offense averaged 37 points per game while holding opponents to 11.7 ppg on defense. He also coached in Dalton, Georgia before moving to Tuscaloosa.

“Real excited about coach Winegarden coming and being a part of our community,” Callahan added. “His reputation is sterling, his commitment to the children and keeping them in school and motivated is very impressive as well.”

Callahan also thanked acting athletic director Jessica Webb who is also the female-sports director as well as head basketball coach for the Lady Pirates.