After 28 years in education, the last 15 spent as the principal of Saks High School, Jody Whaley retired in 2021.
Whaley played high school football for Coach Lou Scales. He got his Master's degree from the University of Alabama, and his E.Ds. from Jax State. Jody married Lisa Turner in 1993. Lisa retired after 37 years as a school teacher in the Calhoun County School System. They attend Hill Crest Baptist Church in Saks. They enjoy traveling as much as possible.
Whaley did his student teaching at Saks High in 1993 and was a volunteer assistant football coach for Coach Bobby Joe Johnson. In the fall of 1994, Whaley was hired at Oxford High to teach math and coach. Whaley coached B-team football, JH basketball, and was an assistant baseball coach while at Oxford. He also scouted for the varsity football team.
In the summer of 1996, Coach John Grass persuaded Whaley to join his coaching staff at Ashville High. Whaley coached 3 sports for Ashville and was a proud assistant coach of the first Ashville Football team to have a perfect 10-0 regular season in 1998. Whaley became the assistant principal at Ashville that same fall and took over as principal and athletic director for Ashville in the fall of 2002. As the athletic director, Whaley saw the Bulldogs win the 2003 3A State Baseball Championship, compete in the 2004 Elite 8 Volleyball State Tournament and participate in the 3A Girls and Boys Basketball Regionals at JSU numerous times. He also started the youth league basketball program back up during his 5 years as AD and principal at Ashville.
Whaley became the athletic director and principal at Saks High in 2007. He watched the Wildcats excel in every sport. The football program won 4 regional championships during his tenure and made it to the playoffs 13 times where they were semifinalist three times. The volleyball program won several area championships and competed in the state regionals 10 times. The men’s and ladies basketball program won the county tournament twice and the boys basketball program reached the Final Four in 2014. The baseball program reached the state quarterfinals twice. And the softball team won the 3A State Softball Championship in 2012. Whaley also started the youth league basketball program back up at Saks.
Since Whaley has retired from education, he has become the permanent tournament director for the Calhoun County Principals & Coaches Association. The CCPCA provides student athletes across the county the opportunity to showcase their abilities during county tournaments. The CCPCA is a non-profit organization that gives the net proceeds back to the participating schools.