Wade Waldrop was announced as the third head football coach of the Orange Beach Mako program on Tuesday, Dec. 19. He comes to the coast fresh off two seasons at Hoover which ran his head coaching total to 18 years.

Waldrop had coached at the Class 7A level since 2014 when James Clemens stepped up from Class 6A. His head coaching career started at Class 5A Chelsea for seven seasons before eight seasons at James Clemens. Before Hoover, Waldrop coached one season in Florence.

Overall, Waldrop owns a 116-84 record with a 7-13 mark in the playoffs. His teams have won four region championships and he’s coached in the last six consecutive postseasons.

In a Tuesday release from Orange Beach City Schools Superintendent Randy Wilkes, it said Waldrop was chosen out of a pool of over 160 applicants who featured coaching experience at high school, college and professional levels.

“Coach Waldrop impressed the committee during the interview process with a proven track record, plans, and processes to address culture, character, and player development,” the release says. “Focus on family and community, longevity of service, and program sustainability were also highlighted and emphasized.”

The Mako football team was the last of three Baldwin County schools to have a head football coaching vacancy after Jamey DuBose stepped down on Nov. 17 but became the first to fill the position. Vacancies remain at Class 7A Robertsdale and Class 6A Baldwin County.

Construction is underway on Orange Beach’s new $46 million sports complex set to serve more than 400 Mako athletes.

Orange Beach is coming off a 1-8 season in 2023 and will have a couple new faces within Class 4A Region 1 for the next two seasons. Class 3A champion Mobile Christian is stepping up with W.S. Neal to join St. Michael Catholic, Escambia County, Jackson and Satsuma.

The Makos hosted first-round playoff games in 2021 and 2022 for their first two postseason appearances. Four members of the 2022 squad went to play Division I football.

Hoover finished 5-7 in 2023 and went 4-3 in Class 7A Region 3 for fourth place. It marked the Buccaneers’ 24th straight trip to the playoffs.

Before his coaching career, Waldrop walked on with the UAB Blazers as a punter and played three seasons, with an average punt of 35.7 yards during his final year. After his playing days, he stayed with the program as a graduate assistant.