Central Phenix City HC Patrick Nix Steps Down to Pursue Ministry

On Thursday, former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix announced he was stepping down as head football coach at Central Phenix City. During his time there, he turned Central Phenix into one of the top programs in Alabama’s 7A high school football.

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Nix coached at Central Phenix for six years, leading the Red Devils to a 65-14 record. His teams won the Class 7A state title in 2023 and reached the championship game in 2021 and 2024.

“Coach Nix has left a lasting impression on Central High School,” said Central Phenix High School’s principal Chris Lindsey. “The culture and values that he brought to our school were invaluable. Those same cultures and values far outweigh the wins and championships that were won on the field. We are very thankful for the lasting impact that Coach Nix and his family have left on Central High School, and we wish them nothing but the best in the future.”

Nix spoke to AL.com's Ben Thomas on Thursday following his announcement, where he told Thomas that “I love Central-Phenix City. I’m very thankful for my six years here, and if I were to be coaching, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I was not interested in taking another coaching job anywhere else. When God moves, you follow. It’s as Simple as that.”

Before Nix’s time at Central Phenix, he served as the head coach for Scottsboro High School and Pinson Valley High School. Thought his 13 years of coaching high school football Nix has compiled a 131-36 record and captured three state titles total, with two coming in 2016 and 2017 with Pinson Valley in 6A where Nix and his son Bo Nix who is also the current quarterback of the Denver Broncos won two back-to-back, and then his one with Central Phenix City in 2023 where he had Cam Coleman who is now the No.1 prospect in the transfer portal in 2026.

The former Auburn quarterback will look to change his career path, as The Central Phenix City release stated that Nix was stepping down to pursue opportunities in the ministry field. Nix, who has a long career of coaching high school and college football, has held coaching positions at Central Phenix, Jacksonville State, Henderson State, Samford, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Charleston Southern.

Nix made it known that he was not necessarily retiring, but just changing his career path for right now, with Nix telling Thomas, “I’m not retiring necessarily. This is where god is calling us right now. If later on in life, God calls us back into coaching, then we will go back, but it’s pretty clear right now with the doors He has opened that this is where He wants us to be and what He wants us to be doing.

Central Phenix City’s former head coach went on to tell Thomas that he is going into full-time discipleship and mentoring with his family’s non-profit organization, AIRO (Athletes Igniting Recovery and Opportunity)

“I think it’s been God’s plan for over 30 years,” Nix said. “I didn’t see it coming. Didn’t know it was coming. One of the gifts God has given me, I think, is discipleship, and He’s blessed me with a whole bunch of good players I’ve been able to be around and coach that are really good people, really good kids, and hungry to know Jesus. Hopefully, through this, we will be able to feed them some.”

Central Phenix City is now searching for Nix’s successor for next season, aiming to find a leader who can build on the remarkable success achieved during his tenure. Under Nix, the team won 10 or more games in five of his six seasons, setting a high standard for the program’s future.

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