After five seasons as the head football coach and athletic director of the Elberta Warriors, Nathan McDaniel announced his resignation on Friday, April 11.

McDaniel had previously spent six years at the helm of the Baldwin County Tigers and also served as the defensive coordinator of the Daphne Trojans as well as linebackers coach for the Prattville Lions.

Class 5A Region 1 Elberta becomes the newest Baldwin County team in search of a head football coach after Cris Bell resigned from his post in Robertsdale after one season last Tuesday. The Warriors went 10-40 overall with a 6-29 mark in region play from 2020-24, their first five seasons as a varsity team.

Elberta’s outgoing head coach penned a letter of appreciation and shared it on social media Friday afternoon where McDaniel thanked the players and their parents, the community, school representatives and his family for their support.

“This job has been one of the most difficult challenges of my professional career but also one of the most rewarding because of the kids, the parents and the wonderful communities of Elberta, Summerdale and Lillian. Together, we made it through a pandemic, hurricanes, a transition from 1A/2A to 5A competition, many new athletic building and facility projects, and the devastating death of a teammate and friend,” McDaniel wrote. “To my wonderful wife, Tamara, who has supported me from the very beginning of my career. You have sacrificed and endured so much that many do not see, and it is an honor to be your husband. Thank you to my babies, Mia Marie and Alma, for the sacrifices that you have made. I love you with all my heart.”

His last message was to all of the athletes who have come through the school and donned Warrior colors.

“Finally, I want to thank our players. Everyone who asks me about Elberta has always received the same response, we have awesome kids,” McDaniel said. “You have faced adversity since the day we stepped on campus, but you never blinked. You handled every adversity with dignity, class and character. I am so proud of each and every one of you and I will ALWAYS be in your life. You are all winners, and I pray God’s richest blessing on you and your families. Thank you for allowing me to be your coach and I pray that I have made some impact on each of your lives. God bless you.”

McDaniel was the second head football coach at Elberta High School according the Alabama High School Football Historical Society. Greg Seibert served as the inaugural coach in 2018 and 2019 when the Warriors went 5-9 overall as a junior-varsity program before they were officially classified for varsity play.