Anderson selected to National High School Hall of Fame

Buddy Anderson is not finished adding wins to his resume, but he has added another honor to bolster the profile of an already illustrious career.

The Vestavia Hills High School head football coach headlines the 2018 class of the National High School Hall of Fame, the National Federation of State High School Associations announced on March 1. 

“I’m very blessed, very honored, humbled and fortunate to have worked with a lot of fine young men,” said Anderson, who is entering his 41st season as the head coach of the Rebels. “I’m appreciative to the coaches and players I’ve had the privilege to work with and for the support of my family, school and administrators.”

Anderson has won 329 games at Vestavia Hills, each additional victory adding to the Alabama state record he set in 2014.

“This is a great honor, not only for Coach Anderson, but for all of the coaches and athletes that have been a part of what Coach Anderson has built at Vestavia,” said Vestavia Hills athletic director Jeff Segars. “Coach Anderson and his program represent everything that is good about high school athletics. The lessons he and his coaches have taught generations of young men have lasted much longer than any contest and that is what education-based athletics is supposed to be about. I can think of no one more deserving to receive this great honor.”

Anderson is one of five coaches in the 12-person 2018 class.

The National High School Hall of Fame was started in 1982 by the NFHS to honor high school athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators, performing arts coaches/directors and others for their extraordinary achievements and accomplishments in high school sports and performing arts programs. This year’s class increases the number of individuals in the Hall of Fame to 470.

Anderson was hired at Vestavia Hills in 1972 as an assistant coach and was named the head coach in 1978. The Rebels won at least 10 games in each of his first three seasons, including a 13-1 season in 1980, as the program won its first state championship with a 15-13 win over Parker in the Class 4A title game.

“Buddy Anderson is an outstanding football coach, but more importantly, he is a role model all coaches can emulate. His influence as a teacher and coach will have a positive impact for student-athletes and coaches in this state for many years to come,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said in a release. “Buddy is just the fourth coach from our state to be selected for induction into this prestigious hall of fame. Through his strong commitment to faith and character, he exemplifies all the right lessons that participation in educational-based athletics can teach.”

Anderson followed in the footsteps of his father, Dovey, who coached football at Thomasville High School for 30 years, from 1931-1961. He compiled a record of 180-82-27 in that time. 

Vestavia Hills went 15-0 in 1998 and won the Class 6A state title after taking down Vigor, 10-7. The Rebels have reached the playoffs in 30 of Anderson’s 40 seasons at the helm.

Last fall, the Rebels finished with a 4-6 overall record in Class 7A, Region 3. 

The Alabama High School Athletic Association contributed to this report