Robertsdale will be searching for a new head football coach ahead of the 2024 season after Kyle Stanford was relieved of his duties on Tuesday, Oct. 10. He will remain the Golden Bears’ athletic director for the school year as the head coaching duties will be split amongst the current staff.

“It has been an unbelievable honor to serve as the Head Football Coach for the past five years,” Stanford wrote on social media. “Knowing that I represented Robertsdale High, the City of Robertsdale and the entire Central Baldwin community is something that I cherished and took seriously. I will be forever grateful for how you opened up your arms to myself, Rebecca, Priscilla and Killens.”

With a 39-27 loss to Murphy last Friday, Robertsdale fell to 8-37 overall in Stanford’s five years at the helm where last year’s winless season was the first since 2017. The defeat also extended an active losing streak to 20 games where the Golden Bears last won on Sept. 24, 2021, 24-10 over Satsuma.

Entering a Week 8 road trip to St. Paul’s (4-2, 2-2) this Friday, Robertsdale will have three more away games to finish the season. After a battle with Spanish Fort (5-2, 4-1) on Oct. 13, the Golden Bears have a non-region tilt with No. 4 Mary G. Montgomery (7-0, 4-0 in 7A-R1) set for Oct. 27. The regular season is scheduled to close in region play against Baldwin County (1-5, 1-3) on Nov. 3.

Robertsdale’s last winning season came in 2001 when they won Class 5A Region 1 with a 6-1 mark as part of a 10-3 overall record. Then head coach Jay Koziol, the current defensive coordinator at UMS-Wright, also led the Golden Bears’ last playoff run in 2004 in the penultimate season of a seven-year stint which also ended with a winless season.

Stanford began his coaching career as a social studies teacher at Center High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi, in 2007 where he served as wide receivers coach. He got his first taste of being a head coach as Center’s interim head man in 2010 after Stanford had been promoted to offensive coordinator.

He served as an assistant head coach and coordinator at Northwest Rankin (2011-2013), Desoto Central (2013-2016) and Olive Branch High School (2016-2019) before taking the post in Robertsdale. Chase Smith, current head coach at Spanish Fort, held the position for one season before starting the program in Orange Beach.

In his message on Tuesday, Stanford was also sure to share a token of appreciation with the Golden Bears he coached and the fellow coaches who served on his staff.

“Most importantly, to the players, thank you for all of your hard work. You are winners and represented Robertsdale to the best of your ability. Nothing will change with me. I’m always only a phone call away. Thank you for allowing me to coach you these past five years,” Stanford said. “Thank you to the coaches who have dedicated their selves to the program for the past five years. There is no doubt that our staff has left a lasting impression on our athletes. You all have been great coaches and it was an honor to coach alongside you.”

Stanford was the 27th coach of the Robertsdale Golden Bears according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society.

“(I) will continue to support all athletic programs, Robertsdale High School, and the entire Central Baldwin Community,” Stanford closed. “Thank you all for the support, and I hope we have had a positive impact on your lives.”