PLANTERSVILLE — The National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association named Dallas County boys’ basketball coach Willie Moore the 2014 South Sectional Coach of the Year Friday.

Moore, who led the Hornets to the 2014 class 4A state championship, won the award over coaches from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Knowing how many great boys basketball coaches there are in Alabama — not to mention the rest of the south — Moore was humbled to win the award.

“I think I’ve had some players that made me look like a good coach, but I’m a humble person by nature,” Moore said. “I’m just amazed that they would choose me. I’m shocked.”

By being named a sectional winner, Moore was automatically considered for national coach of the year, although he did not win that award. The letter from the NFHS read “your contributions to high school athletics are truly deserving of our recognition and thanks.”

Moore said although last year’s team got the headlines and brought home Dallas County’s first state basketball championship trophy, previous teams laid the groundwork.

“I think it validates the players that I’ve had over the years,” Moore said. “Certainly we had a really good year last year, we had some really good years the years before. I think it’s a culmination. I don’t think it’s just a one year deal.”

Moore thanked his assistant coaches for helping develop players through the years, but he recognized much of the credit should go to the players.

“We have had some really good kids that have come in and bought into our system and our ways of doing things,” Moore said. “We’ve been able to have success because we have kids that are 100 percent bought in.”

Moore has coached successful programs at West Blocton, Bibb County and has turned Dallas County into a yearly contender. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Hornets in the championship mix again this season. Dallas County is ranked No. 7 in 5A in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll.