CLASS 7A
ADAM MASSEY, OPELIKA HIGH SCHOOL: Opelika High School assistant football coach and defensive coordinator Adam Massey, 43, has served the Opelika City Schools faithfully since graduation from Troy University in 2023. That includes working for three different head coaches. His wife Kristen has been an elementary school teacher in Opelika for 21 years, and their daughters Avery and Abney have attended Opelika schools. He’s never considered teaching and coaching anywhere else. In other words, the Masseys have made Opelika their home for one big reason.
“I guess that speaks to how good Opelika has been to me and my family,” he said. “I started at Opelika Middle School in 2003 and worked there until 2010. I coached football, wrestling, golf, and track while at OMS. I have been at OHS since 2010 and have coached football and tennis during that time. I teach 9th grade World History at high school. I love it here. My family loves it here.”
According to his nominator Ben Landers, Massey’s example is a standard all should try to emulate.
“As the students enter high school, Coach Massey begins to develop these young people into winners,” he said. “He makes sure each one knows they are loved and cared for. Whether he is providing a home to stay while a student-athlete’s family rebuilds their home that was lost in a fire, or purchasing and donating supplies to another family who lost their home in a fire, Coach Massey is the epitome of a servant leader. He gives so much of his time to all student-athletes. He also takes the time to be a strong man of God, serving as a deacon in his local church. Adam is a family man with strong core values. He also served in the National Guard competing a tour in Iraq, and helping families along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina devastated the lives of so many.”
Massey, who leads a weekly Bible study with leaders from various sports, says he is thankful the opportunities athletics provide to teach life lessons.
“I believe sports gives me an incredible way to model to the players how to handle success and adversity in a positive way,” he said. “I have an incredible opportunity every day to model to these kids how to handle the life lessons that we receive through sports the correct way. I have had the blessing of witnessing Godly men in my family use coaching as a vehicle to impact young adults, so I am trying to carry on that legacy. Through coaching, my family has had the blessing to build lasting relationships with many kids and celebrate their accomplishments long after they graduate. “