FOLEY — Bryan Moore knows talent when he sees it. And, he knows what to do with it.

In 11 years as a head coach at four schools, he’s gone 105-28, made the playoffs every year and just last year made a dramatic run to the Class 7A championship game. There, he and his Opelika Bulldogs ran into a buzzsaw in perennial power Thompson where the Warriors won a third straight title in a runaway.

Moore takes up his fifth head coaching position with the Foley Lions who have a storied history but struggled somewhat during the past six seasons, including a 4-6 mark in 2025. Foley has been to the playoffs only once in those years, 2022, and hasn’t won a playoff game since veteran Todd Watson’s last Lion team in 2014.

Moore is acquainted with Watson through football coaching circles, and a talk with him helped Moore decide on his move to Baldwin County.

“We actually worked together at Opelika as well,” Moore said. “Us coming here, he had a lot to do with it because I trust his opinion. And it's a great place to live, you know. I mean, the tradition has been good here. There have been some NFL players from here, some Hall of Famers from here. But it just hasn't been good in the recent past. But historically, it's a good spot.”

Several NFL stars and downright legends have been through Foley’s football program beginning in the 1960s and '70s with Oakland Raiders bad boy quarterback Kenny Stabler who has NFL and national championships on his resume.

More recently, in the early years of Nick Saban at Alabama, Julio Jones is considered a lock as an NFL hall of famer and a possible first-ballot honoree. Others include offensive lineman D.J. Fluker and safety Robert Lester who were Foley Lions before winning championships at Alabama and playing in the NFL. Other former Lions with NFL experience include Justin Anderson, Bubba Marriott and Chris Watton.

Moore said he believes his Lions have abilities that may indeed lead some of his current players to success at Foley and perhaps beyond.

“Our issues don't have to do with talent,” Moore said. “Our issues have to do with doing things consistently over time. So, there's not a glaring weakness on this team from a physical athleticism standpoint.”

Moore’s mission, he said, is harnessing that athleticism by honing in on the little things he sees adding up to bigger successes through hard work

“There's a weakness of attention to detail and commitment to excellence,” Moore said. “I always tell them successful people do consistently what others do occasionally And we occasionally have good days, but we don't have enough of them.”

His enthusiasm for work ethic and details has been matched by players as they put time in the oppressive summer heat with an eye on a successful 2026 season.

“They want to,” Moore said. “It's just that they are learning what that needs to look like.”

Most of the starters from defense on the 2025 team are gone — nine in fact. But Moore has his eye on a couple of players he said he feels will step forward for his first Foley defense.

“Adrian Pickens is a defensive end that is, I would consider, one of our leaders on our team,” Moore said. “Malachi Dread is a rising junior linebacker. He's a good football player, super physical kid, potentially a college player. He's set to have a great junior year.”

Moore pointed out a receiver and lineman who return and are expected to be leaders for the offense.

“Cam Page is another kid that played last year as a receiver that offensively will be a leader,” Moore said. “J.W. McClellan, a guard, is going to be going into his junior year, but is certainly a leader for us.”

Foley will play in Region 1 of the new state classifications doing away with Class 7A and making Class 6A the largest in the state. Like the former Class 7A, the new Class 6A will have the 32 schools with the largest enrollment in the state.

Four of those schools in Region 1 are in the last five of that 32 with Foley at No. 31 followed by Davidson and Robertsdale and Fairhope is the No. 30 school in Class 6A enrollment. Buckhorn from Madison County is the smallest Class 6A team.

COACH BRYAN MOORE'S BIO

The Bulldogs went 10-4 in 2025. After lopsided losses to Enterprise and Central-Phenix City late in the season, Opelika won four straight games — including a dramatic 31-28 victory over rival Auburn in the state semifinals — to reach the championship game.

Moore went 19-7 in two years at Opelika. He also was 38-9 in four years as head coach at Hartselle, 22-3 in two years at Jasper and 26-9 in three years at Eufaula. He has won 105 games in 11 years as a head coach overall.