09/15/2026
💙🏈 A NEW ERA BUILT ON A FAMILIAR FOUNDATION AT HELENA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Offensive Coordinator Trent Posey Takes the Reins of the Football Team. Longtime head baseball coach promises continuity, character and energy following his summer promotion.
📸 By Dave Smith | Helena City News Online
HELENA — A new name sits atop the Helena Middle School football program this season, but new head coach Trent Posey is not interested in changing things simply for the sake of change.
Posey, HMS’s longtime offensive coordinator and head baseball coach, was promoted over the summer following David Lee’s departure for a position at Oak Grove High School. Having worked alongside Lee throughout his tenure, Posey steps into the job already familiar with the players, the coaching staff and the program’s close connection to Helena High School.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Posey said. “Everything has been running well. I’ve been helping Coach Lee run things for the past five or six years, so we’re going to keep everything rolling. It’s just a change in leadership, and we’re going to keep pushing the kids as hard as we can and get the best effort we can out of them.”
That continuity extends well beyond the HMS sideline. The middle school continues to teach the same basic offense and defense used by Helena High School head coach Richie Busby and his staff, simplified so seventh- and eighth-grade players can learn it at the appropriate level.
Posey considers that alignment one of the middle school program’s greatest strengths.
“We’ve been with Coach Busby ever since he’s been here, and we understand what he wants us to do,” Posey said. “We keep grinding, pushing and developing, and we help the players understand the system the best we can. When they get up there, there’s not as much reteaching. The high school coaches can add new things and keep working from there.”
For Posey, however, preparing players for Helena High involves far more than teaching formations, assignments and terminology. He believes the foundation of a successful program is built first on character.
“We talk to them all the time about having high character, doing things the right way, being a leader on and off the field, respecting their peers and their elders, and how they carry themselves in the classroom,” Posey said. “To be honest, that’s more important than winning a football game, because winning can take care of itself if you have high character, treat the game with respect, care for each other and come together as a team.”
By the time players leave his program, Posey wants them to have developed a strong work ethic, discipline, the willingness to push themselves and the habit of encouraging the teammates beside them.
“More people are going to remember them as a person than they are as a football player,” he said. “I want them to be a great person, and then football will take care of itself.”
Posey’s first weeks in charge included plenty of work that never shows up beneath the game-night lights. Spirit packs had to be organized, officials had to be scheduled and paid, and responsibilities had to be reassigned before the Huskies could turn their full attention to fall camp.
Once practice began, Posey and his staff were ready to focus on football — particularly bringing the new seventh-graders up to speed on the offense and defense.
The promotion did not bring a major staff overhaul. Posey remains in charge of the offense, with Coach Austin Yelton continuing to coach the offensive line and Coach Nick Souder leading the receivers. David James continues to run the defense, while Tyler Groom oversees the secondary. Two new coaches have also joined the staff: CT Dodd, who works with the receivers and defensive backs, and Jamal Cumbrian, who coaches the defensive line.
Posey said one of the most valuable lessons he has learned as the middle school’s head baseball coach is that a head coach’s preparation and leadership are only as effective as the staff around him.
“You’re only as good as your assistant coaches are,” Posey said. “If they’re on the same page with you, then you’re going to have a successful coaching career. We help each other, learn from each other and listen to each other when we need to make changes.”
His new football duties will not change his role on the diamond. Posey will continue serving as the HMS head baseball coach while leading the football program.
Among the coaches who have most influenced him, Posey pointed to the late Mac Thompson, his head coach at Calera High School, and Jason Kervin, who took over as Oak Mountain High School’s head football coach this year.
From them, Posey said, he learned the importance of work ethic, preparation and continuing to push through the daily grind, even when coaches and players are tired.
He also credited Helena’s parents and youth coaches with laying a strong foundation before players ever reach him.
“They’ve done a great job teaching them the game and helping them understand it,” Posey said. “They let them know that hard work is really going to matter in the end. If they can keep that up, they’ll have a successful middle school career and carry it on into high school.”
Posey wants every player to understand that middle school football is not a destination. It is the first stage of a longer opportunity.
“This is not the end of the road,” he said. “This is just the beginning of the path. The goal is to get to the high school, earn a spot on the varsity team, earn playing time and help win games up there. This is just the beginning of their journey.”
When those players arrive at Helena High, Posey hopes Busby and his staff see young men who understand the game, know how to listen and learn, treat others well and carry themselves with character.
As for what HMS parents and fans can expect from the new era, Posey’s answer was simple: much of the same foundation, delivered with plenty of enthusiasm.
“I hope they’re ready for excitement,” he said. “We’re going to work hard, play with a lot of energy, be excited on the sideline and keep pushing and grinding like we’ve always done. And we’re going to try to win a lot of football games.”
As evidence of that statement, both the 7th and 8th grade teams opened their 2026 campaigns with wins over the Oxford Yellow Jackets. The 8th grade won 29-8 and the 7th graders shut them out 14-0.
Eighth-graders Posey expects to set the standard for the team this year include:
Levi rose
Everett ray
Walker Anderson
Jamison sims
Coleman Burkhalter
Jackson Tucker
Posey closed with a message that left no doubt about his eagerness to begin the next chapter.
“I’m excited for this 2026 season,” he said. “Let’s go Huskies!”
Currently, the 8th grade team is 3-0, and the 7th graders are 2-1. Stay tuned!
The HMS Huskies usually play on Thursdays. 7th Grade games kick off at 5:30 p.m. and the 8th graders have the late game with a 7 p.m. start.
Rosters and a schedule are posted at the end of the attached photo gallery.
We wish Coach Posey all the best and offer our congratulations on his new position.
As always — GO HUSKIES!!!
Helena Orthodontics Janet Finnerty Alfa Insurance -Tragg Tew Capstone Plumbing River & Cape Montessori School Helena City News Dave Smith Shelby County AL Schools Helena High School Helena Middle School City of Helena-Helena, Alabama Helena Football Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center
