Defensive coach set to retire this year, but Godsey wants to keep him around football program

TUSCALOOSA – Larry Peck may have coached his last football game at Hartselle, or maybe not.

Peck turned in his notice of retirement to the Hartselle Board of Education last month. Although he may not return to the classroom next year, Hartselle head coach Bob Godsey hopes he will return to the gridiron to coach football.

“It’s not a done deal yet,” Godsey said in the postgame press conference Dec. 1. “I’m going to pull out all of the stops to convince him to come back next year.”

Coach Larry Peck talks to a loved one on a cell phone following the Tigers 13-3 win over Vigor in the state championship game. | Special to the Enquirer: Richard Hollingsworth (http://nikonrick.smugmug.com/)

Peck has been the author of the Tigers’ trademark 3-3-5 defense, which has helped the Tigers build top notch defenses including this year’s squad that only allowed 139 points in 15 games for an average of 9.26 points per game.

Peck has been a part of the Tiger program for more than two decades.

Godsey said he not only has a lot to offer to his team but also to high school football in Alabama.

“Coach Peck is a great coach,” Godsey said. “Our kids need him. High school football in this state needs him. He has a lot to contribute and we hope he will continue to be a part of our program.

“If we can’t convince him to come back, then man, what a way to go out as a coach by winning the state championship.”