Riggs receives lifetime award
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, February 1, 2017
File photo
Former Tiger head football coach Jamie Riggs was a recipient of the 2017 ALFCA Lifetime Achievement Award. Under his leadership, the Tigers won four state titles.
Former T.R. Miller head football coach Jamie Riggs was honored this past weekend as one of three recipients of the 2017 Alabama Football Coaches Association Lifetime achievement award.
Riggs said it was a true honor to be recognized by the Alabama Football Coaches Association.
“I was very excited to have my family, some of my former coaches, and some of my friends from the coaching profession at the event,” Riggs said. “The award is as much for T.R. Miller High School and all of the players, coaches and supporters from the past as it is for me.
“What makes this award even more special is that it recognizes the sportsmanship, class and integrity of our teams as much as the wins and championships.”
In a career that spanned 30 years, Riggs had a winning record of 305-81, which is third best in the state of Alabama. Of the top three coaches, Riggs has the highest winning percentage at 79.
Riggs began his head-coaching career at Opp High School before taking over the reigns at his alma mater T.R. Miller in 1989. While at TRM, Riggs led the Tigers to four state championships (1991, 1994, 2000 and 2002).
Riggs reached the 300-win milestone mark Sept. 25, 2015, against Escambia County.
He has the most wins as a coach in state playoff history with a record of 69-24. Under his leadership the Tigers made the semfinals 14 times and advanced to the state championship eight times. He was named Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers in 1994, 2000 and 2002.
Also named honorary lifetime achievement award recipients were Jerry Elmore of Fort Payne; and Robert Higginbotham of Tuscaloosa County and Shades Valley. Elmore coached for a combined 20 season at Cullman, Oneonta and Fort Payne.
His overall coaching record is 122-88-1. He is the winningest coach in Fort Payne history. He was inducted into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame , as well as DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
Higginbotham coached for 35 years from 1973 to 2008, finishing with a winning record of 270-127-3. He joined the Alabama High School Athletic Association Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002.
