Linden head coach Andro Williams will be honored by the Alabama Football Coaches Association today as the AHSAA 1A Coach of the Year.

The Patriots’ leading man took the his team to a 13-1 record in 2008, remaining perfect until a semifinal-round loss to Sweet Water.

“It’s pretty big,” Williams said of the honor. “It’s an honor that my colleagues in this business think enough of me to pick me as Coach of the Year.”

Williams will be honored along with the other coaches of the year at a banquet at the Embassy Suites hotel in Montgomery today.

“It sort of makes you appreciate what you do every day with the kids,” Williams said. “You go out there and get players to try to be better citizens, be better players and be better people.”

Williams, who finished his second season as the Linden head coach in December, said that his next challenge is more formidable than the one his team just faced.

“I’ve got to do something to challenge our kids,” Williams said of the 2009 season. “We told them that 13-1 wasn’t good enough. We’re aiming to just get better.”

Other ALFCA honorees include current Russellville and former Demopolis head coach Doug Goodwin, who was named 5A Coach of the Year.