Downs Syndrome man succeeds as football coach by Aaron Tanner

Hard to believe it is already November. For those who are new to north Alabama, football is a huge deal in this state. The Iron Bowl rivalry between the University of Alabama and Auburn University is a time-honored tradition around Thanksgiving, dating back to when the matchup was held in Birmingham. The steel industry had a considerable presence in the city’s economy.

For a heartwarming story this holiday season, look no further than Madison Academy’s own Chris Kline, an assistant coach for the school’s varsity football team. Kline spent seventeen years being an assistant coach for the Bob Jones Patriots varsity football team after graduating from there in 2005. Despite being born with Down Syndrome, his parents pushed him to be the very best he could be despite his disability. When one of the long-time defensive coordinators at Bob Jones took a job at Madison Academy, Kline went with him.

What I like about this story is that he has a strong work ethic despite his limitations. Even better, I like how he is treated like a regular member of the coaching staff, and the football players on the team respect him as an authority figure. Coach Kline knows how to read and execute plays and encourages all the fans in the stands at Friday night home games.

To read this story by AL.com on Coach Kline, click here.