Former Woodland, Handley coach Larry Strain inducted into AHSAA hall of fame

By Editor | March 23, 2026 |

By Bill Plott – AHSAA

A coach with multiple talents, Tommie Larry Strain is one of 12 individuals in the Class of 2026 set to be inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. The induction banquet will be tonight, March 23, at 6 p.m., at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center.

Strain is among a select group of Hall of Fame coaches who have led teams from more than one sport to state championships. His numbers also include four runners-up finishes in two sports in his career. He coached 190 wins as a high school football coach, 475 in girls’ basketball, and 155 in boys’ basketball.

He graduated from Randolph County High School in 1981 and earned his college degree from the University of Alabama. He began his teaching and coaching career at Woodland High School in 1999 serving as a classroom teacher, football coach, and girls head basketball coach. In 11 seasons he won more than 260 games, eight area championships and back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 2013 and 2014 in girls basketball. The 2011 team was 2A runner-up. He had remarkable string of six consecutive 30-plus win seasons.

Strain coached 10 All-State and All-State Tournament players including four Player of the Year winners. Daughter Courtney was Class 2A Player of the Year three straight years, 2008-2010, and daughter Leah won the honor in 2015. Both girls still rank 1-2 for most points scored in their high school basketball careers – feats detailed in the online AHSAA Basketball Record Book.

As a football coach at Woodland, Strain compiled a 100-78 with 10 consecutive playoff appearances. Two of his teams reached the Super 6 state finals in Class 2A. His 2006 set a school record with 12 wins. He had 17 All State players over 15 seasons, and his son Trey Strain was named the AHSAA’s overall Bryant-Jordan Program State Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2005.

The coach moved to White Plains for one season in 2014 and then moved Handley High School in Roanoke where he remained for the rest of his career until his retirement in January of 2025. As Handley’s head football coach, he compiled a record of 84-36 with nine playoff appearances in 10 years. The 2016 and 2020 teams were Class 4A state champions. His 84 wins rank second all-time at Handley. Five of his teams won 10 or more games, and he had 22 All-State players overall. Strain’s overall football coaching record was 186-122 in 26 seasons with 21 playoff appearances and 32-19 playoff record.

He coached boys basketball for five years at Handley and assisted with girls basketball for six years. The boys teams won two area championships and two county championships. The girls program was headed by his daughter Courtney. Helping her as an assistant, that program won five straight county championships and made four Elite 8 appearances in the state playoffs.
Strain coached in two Alabama-Mississippi All Star football games and two North-South football games. He has also coached in both events in girls basketball and received numerous Coach of the Year awards. Among them are the National Federation of High Schools South Section and Alabama Coach of the Year awards in 2020-2021.

Jaide Bailey, who played on Woodland’s 2013 and 2014 championship teams said of her coach: “I have been on numerous sports teams, including playing basketball in college and have been coached by many throughout my athletic career, but no coach has made quite impact that coach Strain did for me. Throughout my years playing for him, he taught me values such as discipline, sportsmanship, confidence, respect, teamwork, and integrity. These things not only made an impact on my athletic ability and career but also impacted my life and helped shape me into the person I am today.”

Another former player, Tyler Napier, attributes his career in education today to Strain’s influence. “There are some pivotal life lessons that were learned under coach Strain that I still carry with me each day in my career and my daily life,” Napier said. “You only got what you earned with coach. If you wanted to play, you had to earn it in the classroom, the weightroom and on the field. There was never going to be anything handed to you regardless of who you were or what your name was.

“He provided us with an example that all people, regardless of outlying factors, can come together as a family, love one another, and put it on the line every snap for the team. I look back now and think of how important it was that he pushed the importance of father and brotherhood. When I was blessed with the opportunity marry my wife, coach Strain was there and eight of my groomsmen were guys that I graduated with and played ball with under coach Strain.”

Strain has been active in many areas of his community. Among them, he is a speaker for the local National Day of Prayer program and participates in Red Cross America activities with elementary students. He is involved with the Christmas for Kids ministry and serves as a mentor to Summer Youth Works.

Set to be inducted with Strain are administrators Jamie Chapman, John Hardin, Kimberly Kiel, and Willie Moore, fellow football coach Jeff Smith; basketball coaches Ricky Austin, Owen Butts, Anthony Edwards, Wilie Maxey, and Joseph Pettway; and selected from the “Old-Timers’ Division was track coach Samuel Pettaway. Mr. Chapman is deceased.

The Class of 2026 will be introduced today at the AHSAA Hall of Fame Luncheon, which is also scheduled for the Renaissance. It will be attended by several Hall of Fame members who were enshrined in previous years. A press conference will follow the luncheon today at the Renaissance at 1:30 p.m.