Buddy Ball
Since its inception 32 years ago, Buddy Ball has delivered one thing with consistency at Vestavia Hills High School – victory.
VHHS Head Football Coach Buddy Anderson’s run-first offense has experienced little change in more than three decades. It’s led his Rebels to an overall record of 271-111 since he took over the program in 1980. But Anderson’s wins don’t just appear on the scoreboard.
While he has led teams to two state championships (1980 and 1998) and appeared in the state playoffs 25 of his 32 years, he has also worked tirelessly to lead players to be champions out of their uniforms.
That, he said, is the main goal of Buddy Ball. The system may revolve around the ground game, but it’s all about being grounded as a person.
Anderson uses football to help young men better understand themselves, and often uncover qualities they didn’t know existed – qualities like sacrifice, dedication, charity, camaraderie, humility, teamwork and pride. All of these have been found on the football field, in practice and in games at VHHS since Anderson took the helm. But the mentality goes back farther than 1980.
Thirty-eight years ago, Anderson interviewed for an assistant coaching position at VHHS after finishing his undergraduate degree at Samford University. Interviewing Anderson for the job, Coach Thompson “Mutt” Reynolds asked, “Why do you want to become a football coach?”
“Because I feel the Lord is calling me,” Anderson replied.
Reynolds didn’t ask Anderson another question. He felt like he was hiring a winner and told him so that day.
For Anderson, Christian principals are a possible building block within his system, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is a large part of his life. The national organization holds its annual meeting at Black Mountain, N.C., every June, and Anderson and his wife Linda have attended 40 of the last 41 conferences.
“The only one we missed was when a family member was near death and we felt we needed to stay home,” Anderson said.
In Vestavia Hills, the Wednesday night meetings of the VHHS chapter of FCA are held at Anderson’s home. While none are mandatory for players, anywhere from 12-40 members of the team attend the student-led meetings. Anderson said just thinking about it puts a grin on his face and a warm feeling in his heart.
Anderson said he wants to provide a foundation for personal excellence in players, as teaching the “Game of Life” is just as important as the game of football. It’s this awareness and respect he and his coaches have for the players, their sacrifices and their gifts – both athletic and spiritual – that define Buddy Ball.
Many 16-year-old players might think that every high school they compete against has a coaching staff, a Coach Anderson, and a program like Vestavia Hills. It’s only when they’ve graduated and had a chance to observe other programs that they realize what they were blessed to learn as a Rebel.
Buddy Anderson
Alabama’s winningest coach with one program
Overall record at VHHS: 274-111
1974: Hired as assistant coach
1980: Named head football coach
1980: First state championship
1982: Named athletic director
1998: Second state championship
2002: VHHS football field renamed Buddy Anderson Field
2003: Elected to Alabama High School Athletic Hall of Fame
2013: Achieved 300 career wins