A veteran to the local coaching circuit, DJ Emerson takes the reigns as head football coach at Curry. Here’s his plan. 

Words by Suzie Walton | Images by Al Blanton 

When DJ Emerson sets his mind to something, he is all in. A man of resolve, DJ puts his whole heart into the greatest—and sometimes, dirtiest—of challenges. 

By sophomore year of high school, DJ had resolved on a career path and never wavered. He credits much to his high school football coach who helped guide him along the way. “Coach [John] Holladay was such a supportive mentor, showing me the realistic expectations of teaching and coaching,” DJ says. “When I decided to shadow him for a few days during my junior year, he took me out to clean toilets in the stadium. He said he wanted me to be fully aware of the expectations of a career in coaching.”  

A 2004 Hamilton High School graduate, DJ played football at Pasadena City College in California and later at the University of North Alabama (UNA) before earning his degree in physical education from The University of Alabama. He says great support and mentors can make a difference in the life of a young person, although not all young men face the challenges of life with a strong support system. 

“My high school football coach really impacted my life at a time when I didn’t think my parents had all the answers,” DJ recalls, emphasizing that his parents always offered support and were fully involved. “When boys get to a certain age, they also need good mentors outside their homes. I want to be that good, positive role model for my guys.” 

As the new head coach at Curry, Emerson proudly strolls through the athletic facility—the Jackets’ house he plans to make home—and reclines in his faded leather chair. “I hope to bring some stability to the CHS program,” he explains. “I want to pour into the lives of our young men and really hammer in, whether you are four years old or 18, when you wear CURRY proudly across your shirt, we are one big family moving in the same direction.”

After an early meeting with the school principal and community members, DJ could sense their desire and hunger to be all in and their commitment to work together to move the program in the right direction. As he relates this story, he takes a bright yellow token from his pocket and pushes it across the desk. “Here’s my vision and motto,” he says.

The token is engraved on one side with the school’s mascot and the words “All In.” On the opposite side are six words DJ believes are the core of his team’s values: 

Family. Focus. Fearless. Fun. Fast. Finish. 

“I want the guys to know they have to be ‘all in’ if we are going to be successful. These six words are the foundation of our program,” he explains. “I want the guys to want to put it all out there and to stay positive and look ahead each day as they work harder than the day before.”

His ideas to build the program are “outside the box,” he explains, such as weekly competitions in attendance, basketball, kickball, grades, cone grabs, and weight room maxes. “Everything is recorded because I want the players to compete in everything they do,” he says. 

DJ acknowledges there will be struggles to rebuild a program that was winless in 2020 and the community will judge him based on the scoreboard, but he says he feels strongly about the character of the boys he shapes. “I judge myself based on how these boys grow and mature into hard working young men, husbands, eventually fathers, and servants in their communities,” he says.

After coaching stints in Tennessee, Jasper, and Cordova, DJ is pouring heart, soul, and vision into the Curry boys’ athletic program. Now in his 13th year of coaching, much of his philosophy is an amalgamation of ideas and goals he has learned from the various coaches he has played for and coached with in his life.  

“I take a little bit from each great coach I’ve been blessed to work with,” DJ says. “I am excited to come to the field to see what each new day holds. I already have the middle school boys working out with the high school guys. We all have to be on the same page if we want to be successful. I plan to award these tokens at the end of summer and through the fall to the guys as they work hard, accomplish goals, and never quit.” 

DJ says he wants the tokens to be a constant reminder to the players that their hard work is noticed. “The boys will earn these chips,” he says, “and I don’t want anyone to deter them from their dreams.” 78