George Hoblitzell

A native of Calhoun County and 1965 graduate of Anniston High School, Hoblitzell devoted his adult life to teaching and coaching. His career included 25 seasons in Alabama, all as a head coach, and 25 seasons coaching in Georgia, with 11 seasons as a head coach. He had a special knack for taking charge of football programs that were struggling and making them successful. In Alabama, Hoblitzell’s teams were 171-102-2. His Georgia teams were 53-63.

Hoblitzell’s longest time at one school, and arguably his most successful career stop, came at Piedmont. Prior to his arrival ahead of the 1982 season, the Bulldogs had not had a winning season since the 1974 campaign. Over 13 seasons, Hoblitzell led Piedmont to a record of 105-44. Piedmont had never reached the AHSAA football playoffs before hiring Hoblitzell. During his tenure, the Bulldogs made nine playoff appearances, eight times as area champions and once as an area runner-up.

In each of Hoblitzell’s final seven seasons at Piedmont, the Bulldogs made the playoffs and won at least one playoff game. His 1990 team completed its regular season 10-0 and won twice more in the postseason. In 1993, Piedmont shut out its three Class 4A, Area 13 opponents in the regular season by downing Cherokee County (34-0), Hokes Bluff (35-0) and Jacksonville (41-0) for an 8-2 record. In the postseason, the Bulldogs defeated Sylvania, Midfield and Deshler before falling to North Jackson (21-6) on the road in the 4A semifinal round.               

Hoblitzell graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1969. After one season as an assistant in Georgia, he became head coach at Douglas High School in 1970. His first year at Douglas was also the first season for football at Douglas and the Eagles finished 4-5-1.

Success followed at Valley Head where his five teams were 34-21-1 with one loss coming in the 1972 1A state championship game and another in the 1976 1A semifinal round. Hoblitzell led his four Cleburne County teams to a 23-17 record after the Tigers were 23-52-4 over the eight seasons before he was hired.

In Calhoun County, Hoblitzell was named football coach of the year seven times by his peers and baseball coach of the year once. Overall, he was a coach of the year honoree 11 times, 11 of his teams were area or region champions and 23 of his football players were named first-team, second-team or honorable mention all-state.     

 An all-around athlete at Anniston, Hoblitzell was a three-year starter in football, basketball and baseball and represented the school at Boys State. As a senior, he was a second-team all-county pick in football at end. He was a first-team all-county selection in basketball as a senior.      

Hoblitzell played basketball and baseball at Snead State Junior College and was president of the Student Government Association while at Snead State.