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Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison Inducted Into FHSAA Hall Of Fame
September 27, 2021
Legendary football coach Carl Madison was officially inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony Sunday night at the University of Florida.
The football field at Tate High School was recently remained “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the legendary coach that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
Madison, who turned 90 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semifamous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The then 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
In 2009, Madison briefly came out of retirement to once again take to the field at Tate, this time as an offensive consultant.
Comments
15 Responses to “Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison Inducted Into FHSAA Hall Of Fame”
i coached with 19 different head coaches and played for a dozen, Coach Madison was the best coach I ever knew, I was proud to work for him, and wish we had worked together for a lifetime! Congrats Coach.
Coach was the first Teacher at Milton High School to give 3 licks with a board as big as the side of the house i thought, It was his first year at Milton and I was about 14 back then it was & grad thru 12, I am seventy three now. My friend coach Carl Madison congratulations, You are still the man
I remember him telling his players you walked on the field if you get hurt on the field make sure you get yourself off this is one amazing man taught so many wonderful years at Milton
Congratulation Coach Carl Madison i remember when he was 1980 tate football coach my brother played in the pine forest supersound i was 13 years old going to bellview middle school back in 1980 as a stundent here was so fun my family we took 7 day cruise ship before 1980 football season started that was fun carl madson tate play pine forest last game at tate in 1980 tate won i was there because my brother was in the supersound carl madison is great coach happy in fhssa hall of fame from william m huber
Coach Carl, Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! Don’t let anyone forget the one year you served as assistant coach at Atmore right out of Texas Tech. I was an 8th grader when you were there.
Well done good and faithful servant!
Congratulations coach. The remarkable difference you made in so many children including my own, will forever be remembered by us all. My children have turned into great man, by the guidance and support of great coaches like you , not just coaching but giving them outstanding principles that will last a lifetime.
Congratulations coach on a well deserved award! One of his Pine Forest teams made the top 50 greatest high school football teams of all time at #47…another great accomplishment coach!
Greatest coach I have ever known. He also was back at Tate for a stint at 72 years of age around 2002. Back in the 70’s at Tate he would load his own ammo in his office. None of us ever thought anything of it, and I still don’t.
Coach Madison is legendary in many ways in the high school football business. I am glad I got to spend some time with him at some coaching clinics.
This man made a man out of me! Because of hard work ethics and stick to it don’t quit attitude that he emboldened into who I am today! I am able to endure physically and mentally almost anything! Thank you coach Madison , you made a huge difference in my life! Quitters never win and winners never quit ! This award is long overdue!
Best Coach ever! Long over due!
I played for Coach Carl Madison 72-76. He is the greatest coach ever. This honor is long over due. Go Tate Aggies!
Congratulations to Coach Madison!! He is an awesome coach!! They always forget to mention he was back at Ernest Ward High School from 1985-1986!! (Between Pensacola High and Pine Forest) He took our EWHS Eagles that year to 7-3 winning season! Thank you Coach!
Congratulations Coach Madison! Very well deserved. IMHO – Coach Madison should have been inducted years ago!
Great Coach !