Massey returns to sidelines following Military Deployment 

       MOBILE – Leroy High School football coaches Jason Massey and Chan Lowe are sharing a very special week together on the staff of the Alabama All-Stars preparing for Saturday’s 38^th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.
    Both men have learned to value each day they have coaching football. Both will be on the sidelines Saturday when Alabama’s All-Stars host Mississippi at Mobile’ Whitney Hancock Stadium at noon. That too is a special memory both will treasure.
    Massey became head football coach at Leroy High School in 2013. Over the next 10 years he guided the Bears to two state semifinal appearances (2019 and 2020) and one Class 2A state title in 2022. Leroy opened the 2023 season dropping to Class 1A and was 4-0 when Massey, a member of the Alabama National Guard, got his orders to report to active duty with his unit.
     Chan Lowe had been his assistant coach – a friend who Massey had been preparing to become a head coach one day. That day came sooner than expected thanks to Massey’s military deployment.
     Lowe proved to be a fast learner – finishing the 2023 season with 10 more wins and the Class 1A state football title. When 2024 started, Massey was still deployed and Lowe served as head coach again – leading Leroy to a 10-2 record. When the team opened the state playoffs on November 13, Massey was able to attend. Leroy’s season ended the next week with a tough 16-14 loss to Georgiana.
    Lowe and Massey were selected by Alabama All-Star head coach Jeff Kelly to serve on this year’s all-star coaching staff. It isa reunion they have both looked foreword too for a long, long time.
    When Massey returned to home in the playoffs, he said, “It is great to be back in Leroy and on the sidelines,” said Massey. “The coaches and players have done great.”
    Kelly was fully aware of Massey’s military commitment and Leroy’s unique situation.
   “I have been very familiar with the Leroy program and the Leroy community. I coached against Coach Massey for many years when I was coaching at Jackson, and he was at Leroy. I have an absolute ton of respect for him.
   “I am so proud of his sacrifice for doing things we take for granted. We ought to be more grateful. He was ready and willing to serve his country even when his team was battling to play for a state championship was a tough thing for him and it was also a tough spot for Coach Lowe.”
     Kelly understands the desire of a young coach to want to be a head coach. These circumstances came with a double dose of expectations and responsibility.
    “You’ve got Coach Lowe who had been with Coach Massey for a long time who was there and obviously learned a ton from him,” said Kelly. “I think when Coach Massey had to go off and serve there wasn’t a letdown. He was ready to be the next man up.”
    Massey said he wasn’t surprised.
    “This is a very special week for both of us,” he said after Alabama’s Thursday afternoon workouts. “It was a big shock for our team when I went to serve. I owe a lot of credit to Coach Lowe and all of the players who stepped up and brought everybody together. The players and the coaches made me so proud. Leroy is a special community, and everyone has great expectations.”
     Lowe, who compiled a 20-2 record including a 6-1 playoff slate and the 2023 Class 1A state football crown during Massey’s absence, was beaming with smiles to be coaching in the 38^th Alabama-Mississippi Classic with his mentor and friend.
    “It’s great to be back with Coach Massey,” he said. “It’s like we haven’t missed a beat even though he has been gone for a year and a half. Our whole school program was committed to the Massey brand of football, and when he left there wasn’t much difference because I don’t know how to do it any other way.”
     Lowe said that culture Massey had established provided the stability that was needed during his absence. “People expect to win in Leroy, and they all wanted to win for him.
It didn’t have a whole lot to do with me, but it was about these kids and what Coach Massey has taught them and us coaches and what he means to all of us.”
     When Massey was activated, Lowe was ready to step right in, said Massey. Lowe, however, credits Massey’s impact in his own life for preparing him to ‘step up.’
     “I think Coach Massey had done a good job of preparing me to be a head coach,” said Lowe. “He knew that was my goal long term. But still, there were some things I had to learn for myself. The credit goes to Coach Massey and the kids … It really wasn’t about me but about them. They expected to win.”
     “I am proud of Coach Massey and so proud to call him one of my best friends in the world. I am glad to be here getting the chance to coach in this all-star game with him.”
    Massey said he always had full confidence in Lowe.
    “Coach Lowe has had to wear a lot of hats, some hats that I had to wear and some of his own. He was very successful guiding our guys each and every day to a state championship and pretty much through this year as well.
    “I am definitely proud of him and the job thy he has done. It is great to be back coaching alongside him. He is very special to me and a great Christian example to the young men.”
     Kelly admitted that having both men on his all-star coaching staff had made this year’s game even more special for him too – and for the all-stars and the coaches.
    “It is awesome to have them both coaching in this game” he said.  “Both are great gentlemen and great leaders of young men and dang good football coaches too. This is a great lesson for all of us. I have a lot of respect for each man and woman who serves, and Coach Massey’s tremendous example of service for our nation is an example we all can learn from.”