Joe Sicola begins his first year as Samford's director of football operations.

"We are extremely excited about having Joe join our staff," Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "Not only has he been a long-time friend, but I don't know of anyone who is more respected in the state of Alabama with his relationships with the high school coaches. He will be a tremendous asset for us at Samford."

Sicola comes to Samford from Gulf Shores High School on Gulf Shores, Ala., where he has worked since 2004. At Gulf Shores, Sicola was the offensive coordinator for the football team and the academic adviser for all student-athletes.

Sicola also taught American History and World History at Gulf Shores, and he was in charge of eligibility reports for the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Prior to his time at Gulf Shores, Sicola was the offensive coordinator at Murphy High School in Mobile from 2003 to 2004. He also taught driver education at Murphy.

From 2000 to 2003, Sicola was the head football coach and athletic director at Baker High School in Mobile. In his role at Baker, Sicola also taught American History.

Sicola also has experience at high schools in the Birmingham area. He coached at Hoover High School from 1995 to 2000, where he was an assistant football coach, and assistant girls basketball coach.

From 1987 to 1995, Sicola worked at Hewitt-Trussville High School. At Hewitt-Trussville, Sicola served as assistant football coach and head girls basketball coach. He also worked at Hewitt-Trussville Junior High School from 1985 to 1987. He was the head junior high wrestling coach, as well as an assistant on the high school teams for football, wrestling and baseball.

From 1979 to 1985, Sicola served at Birmingham's John Carroll High School. In his final year at the school, he was the head football coach and athletic director, after serving as offensive coordinator for his first five years. For his first four years at John Carroll, Sicola was the school's head baseball coach and head wrestling coach. He also coached the school's track and field team for one year.

Sicola served as the head football coach at Frances Marion High School in Marion, Ala., from 1978 to 1979. From 1973 to 1978, Sicola worked at McAdory High School in McAlla, Ala. At McAdory, Sicola served as assistant varsity football coach, head baseball coach, head golf coach and head junior high wrestling coach.

Sicola began his coaching career at Walker High School in DeKalb County, Ga., where we served as an assistant coach for the football and wrestling teams.

Sicola earned his Bachelor's Degree from Auburn University in 1970 and his Master's in Education Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1976.

Sicola is married to the former Susan Jenkins. The couple has two children, Jennifer Sicola Dennis and Matthew Patrick Sicola. They also have one grandchild, George Michael Dennis (1).