Field dedication honors Coach Faith
By Kathy Thomson
Longtime Lion head football coach Denney Faith’s dedication and contributions to the Albany Independent School District, students, athletes, coworkers, and others in Albany were recognized at the start of last Friday night’s home football game when the playing field was officially dedicated as “Faith Field at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.”
Former Albany school board member and game announcer John Tate read the presentation from the press box a little before game time on Friday, Sept. 6.
Coach Faith, his wife Angelyn, and their children Audrey, Alex, and Adam joined current and former school board members in the center of the football field. The couple’s oldest son Aaron is a coach in Mason and wasn’t able to be present.
Representing the AISD trustees that hired Faith in 1982 were Gerald Petree and Billy Green. Current school board officers Robert Montgomery, Kelly Head, and Kalico Leech, and members Ginny Ivy, Dr. Cory Brown, Joe Tidwell, and Kim Neece were there as well as former board members Pam Davis and Betsy Parsons.
“Back in 1982, 37 years ago, the Albany Independent School District Board of Trustees faithfully hired this young coach,” said Tate. “In 1987, they named Denney Faith head football coach of the Albany Lions. Now in his 32nd year as head coach, Coach Faith stands before you with an outstanding resume including 300 career wins, all here in Albany.”
Before the night was over, the Lions had increased the win column count to 301 by defeating Dublin.
On Tate’s count, the tarp over the top of the press box fencing was removed to reveal new signage designating the football field as “Faith Field.”
The facility itself is still known as Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
From mid-field, Faith expressed his appreciation to those that helped him along the way.
“I am very humbled and grateful to all the players and coaches that were a part of this honor,” the coach said. “Without their loyalty and sacrifice this could never have happened. I would also like to thank all former coaches and players that started the tradition that is Albany football.”
Faith said that it has been his honor and privilege to carry on what many others had started.
“I don’t know that there is any greater honor that can be given to a coach, and I will always be thankful for what those coaches and players did on the field,” Faith said. “But more importantly were the bonds that were built by being a part of something larger than ourselves – by being a part of Albany football!”
Faith’s Statistics
The Lions’ first win under head coach Denney Faith was on Sept. 11, 1987 when they beat the Baird Bears, who came into the game ranked number one in the state, by a score of 29-6.
Faith’s overall record is 301 wins, 101 losses, and four ties, placing him in 12th place on the Texas high school football all-time wins list, and in fourth place among those who are still actively coaching.
The Lions have made it to the playoffs in 25 of Faith’s 32 years as head coach, including four state championship appearances, and they have a post-season record of 59 wins and 25 losses.
