football
Author: Jeff Shearer
Philip Lawrie (second from left, Alvin Briggs, Brandon Dean, Tyler Dent)
Montgomery, Alabama – During a career spanning nearly 50 years, Philip Lowery coached high school, college and professional football, winning championships at each level.
“I consider myself a high school coach first and foremost,” Lowry said. “I always have it.”
Lowery, who was a member of the Auburn football coaching and support staff from 1999 to 2014, was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame on Monday.
“It's a great honor and I'm very humbled,” Rowley said. People say it hasn't caught on yet. It has been ingrained in me. That's very special to me. ”
An all-state three-sport athlete at South Choctaw Academy, Lowery graduated from the University of West Alabama and began his coaching career at North Jackson, winning the 4A state championship in 1993.
He came to the Plains in 1999, first as the strength and conditioning coach, then coaching the defensive backs, then transitioning into administration, leading Auburn to three SEC championships and the 2010 national championship. , contributed to the team's 2013 runner-up finish.
“I loved it,” Lowry said of his time at Auburn. “I am grateful for the opportunity they have given me and the trust they have placed in me.
“It was a great honor to coach some of the players. Most of the defensive backs I coached went on to be successful in the NFL. I thought we did the right thing along the way, so that's what I did. This was a ripple from my high school.'' Those days I learned what I had to teach if I was going to compete and be in the program every year.
“It's about teaching and it's about process. When I went to Auburn, I took what made me successful as a high school coach and it worked for me at Auburn.”
Lowry's reliability and connections with high school coaches in Alabama benefited Auburn.
“I thought my high school experience really helped me at Auburn because I knew a lot of the coaches from recruiting,” he said. “They knew how much I respected them and what they were doing. In my heart of hearts, I'm always going to be a high school football coach.”
After 15 seasons at Auburn, Lowry finished his Canadian Football League career as the Elks' defensive coordinator, helping Edmonton win the Gray Cup in 2014.
Rory is proud to have over 20 former players become coaches.
“That's very special to me because it means this game meant something to them,” he said. “What we did inspired them, and that’s a big deal.”
In addition to Lowry, three Auburn University graduates are among the 12 Class of 2024 members of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame: Horseshoe Bend native Mike Boyd, Central Phenix City native Ron Nelson and Talladega There are three members, including Chucky Miller from the United States.
“I don't know anyone here,” Rory said before the induction ceremony. “It means a lot to be their friend.”
A friend and now a fellow Hall of Famer.
“Most of my friends are high school coaches,” Lowry said. “And I get to join a lot of people here. It's a very humbling feeling. All the big names and great football coaches. It's definitely an honor.”
Jeff Shearer is a senior writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff shearer
