FLORENCE — Officials at Florence High School said they set out to make a commitment to becoming a state football power with the hire of the program’s new coach.

The man they chose, former Prattville coach Jamey DuBose, made it clear he shares that vision when he stepped to the podium at his introduction early Friday afternoon.

“The first thing I can tell you we’re going to accomplish is, I can tell you, we’re going to be the No. 1 team in the state of Alabama quickly,” DuBose said. “Our main goal at Florence will be to dominate every team in the state of Alabama. We’re not just going to be good; we’re going to be great.”

Florence introduced DuBose as its new coach during an event in the school’s auditorium attended by the football team, parents, fans and boosters. The event came moments after a called meeting of the city school board on the same auditorium stage, during which board members unanimously approved DuBose’s hiring.

Florence city schools superintendent Janet Womack said DuBose will earn $87,000 annually, which includes his base pay as a physical education teacher and coaching supplement. As part of his compensation package, DuBose also will receive up to $5,000 in moving expenses, which the school system will be reimbursed by the Florence Quarterback Club.

DuBose’s reportedly earned about $74,000 annually as the football coach and athletics director at Prattville. He also received a one-time bonus of $15,000 in 2010.

DuBose, a cousin of former Alabama coach Mike DuBose, comes to Florence after winning the Class 6A state championship twice in his four years as Prattville’s head coach, including last season. He was part of two more state title as an assistant coach at Prattville, where he’s been since 2004. He also served as head coach at Class 3A Susan Moore in 2002 and 2003.

DuBose has a 52-24 record in seven years as a head coach, including a 42-13 record at Prattville, where he also led the Lions to a 2009 state runner-up finish.

DuBose takes over for former Florence coach Alvin Briggs, who stepped down after five seasons in November to become director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.

Briggs led Florence to its best season in eight years of football in 2009, when the Falcons finished 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Florence hasn’t returned to the postseason since and went 7-3 last year.

DuBose said, among other things, it was his competitive spirit that led him to Florence from a job at one of the state’s premier programs.

“My question to everybody is: What more could I do at Prattville. In four years as a head coach, I won two rings,” he said. “Now, I’ve won four over eight years. It’s just time for something new.

“There’s something inside of a coach, a competitive spirit to never be satisfied and always want to fight to do something that nobody has done. At Florence right now, I have the opportunity to build a tradition that will go on forever. One day, when we look back and talk about the tradition of Florence Falcon football, I want them to remember that Jamey DuBose got it started.”

Womack and Florence athletics director Byron Graham said DuBose was one of four finalists for the job who emerged out of a pool of 97 applicants.

Graham said it didn’t take long to identify DuBose as their main target.

“There was just a little something extra there besides hardware,” Graham said. “The vision of how he wanted to take things to that point, and being about to see the results of his vision. So we knew that was probably going to seal the deal for us there.”

Womack confirmed that DuBose was initially offered the job Monday, but he turned it down. She said he accepted after some negotiations over his supplement package.

Womack and Graham also said Florence will increase the number of football coaches it has on staff beginning next season.

The school aims to increase the number of supplements for assistant football coach to 12 total for the junior high and junior varsity levels combined and 10 for the varsity team for a total of 22 coaches in the program.

“We have some community commitment for some funding to help us be able to expand that,” Womack said. “We are very careful that our chief balance is academics and then, of course, to make sure our athletic programs are taken care of. So we have people in the community who have committed to helping us fund some of those positions.”

DuBose said the commitment shown by Florence heavily influenced his decision to take the job.

“Dr. Womack, she’s committed,” DuBose said. “She’s told me what we need is what we’re going to get to get it done.

“What sold me was Dr. Womack and coach Graham and the words and the things they said. (Salary) wasn’t even the major thing we were talking about. We were more or less talking about the vision, where we’re going, facilities, and I’m excited about that.”

It wasn’t an easy decision DuBose said. He informed his Prattville players that he would be leaving during a team meeting there Friday at 7:30 a.m. He then drove straight to Florence for his introduction.

“I’ve been through some hard things in my life; that was one of the hardest,” DuBose said. “Because I’ve got a lot of love for those kids there. I’ve been getting texts on the ride up here from kids thanking me. That means more to me than anything that anybody can give me, any money or anything else.”

DuBose said an AHSAA investigation into Prattville last summer had no impact on his decision to leave.

During DuBose’s tenure as head football coach and athletics director, Prattville was found to have used ineligible players in football, basketball and baseball who violated the AHSAA’s bona fide move rule. Dubose said he wasn’t aware the players in question did not live in Prattville’s district.

The school was fined a total of $900, forced to forfeit games in all three sports and put on probation.

Womack and Graham said the incident doesn’t concern them.

“That’s a closed book. We went through a six-month investigation and we didn’t hide anything,” DuBose said. “We cooperated, and the AHSAA did everything that they could do to do right. When you win, a lot of things happen, a lot of things come and a lot of things are said that are untrue. We knew we were right in what we were doing. That whole deal made me a better person. It made me a better coach.”

When it comes to football, Dubose said he plans to implement a hurry-up spread offense, capitalize on speed and stress physicality. He also hopes to improve roster size at Florence.

“I’m big on numbers,” DuBose said. “We dressed 147 kids in the state championship game last year at Prattville. Don’t tell me it can’t be done here. The numbers are here. We just have to get kids out, get them fired up and get them ready to go.

“I’m going to tell you today, as fans, the one word I’ve got for you is buckle up,” DuBose added during his introductory speech. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. For the players, it’s going to be an experience that I’m going to give you that will be something for a lifetime. The one thing that I’ll tell you is I’m a winner. I’m a winner, and I’ll continue to be a winner. And we’re going to bring that winning tradition right here to Florence.”

Bryan App can be reached at 256-740-5730 or bryan.app@TimesDaily.com.