Robert Gartman, Head Coach of the Morgan Academy Senators, is scheduled to be inducted into the 2005 Alabama Independent Schools Association (AISA)Hall of Fame.

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 31, 2005

“I learned about the induction in early Jan. I was very appreciative, but it wasn’t one of my goals in life”, said Gartman who hopes to one day “be the most winning high school football coach in Alabama”.

In his 22 year career as a coach, Gartman has led AISA schools to 10 state finals. A 1979 graduate of the University of Alabama, he played football for Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1974-1977.

After graduating, the Mobile native began his coaching career as an assistant at Jackson Academy in Jackson, Ala. In 1983 Gartman become head football coach at Pickens Academy in Carrollton Ala. He remained there until accepting a similar position at Morgan Academy in 1986. During Gartman’s time at Morgan, the Senators won the state football championship in AISA’s highest classification in 1988, 1989, 1991, and 1992.

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In 1990, they played for the title and made five consecutive appearances in the finals.

Gartman returned to Jackson Academy in 1993, and in 1996, went to Wilcox Academy in Camden, Ala. where he won a state title his first year.

He returned to Morgan Academy in 2001 and led the Senators to the 2003 State Championship in Troy.

In addition to his notable 192-69-1 record as head coach, Gartman has led each school to the playoffs and was selected as a representative of these schools in Selma’s annual all-star game. Gartman has taken each AAA school to the championship game four times within three years, has coached track teams to six state titles (five boys, one girls), and has made four playoff appearances as a basketball coach.

” He has accomplished so much, but he is not the type of person who always talks about his achievements”, said Dr. DeBuzna, Headmaster of Morgan Academy. Gartman, along with eight other inductees, will be inducted into the AISA Hall of Fame on Monday, Feb. 28 at the Embassy Suites, Montgomery, Alabama.

Among those joining Gartman to celebrate will be Kathy Gartman, his wife of 27 years and John Gartman, his 26 year old son who is Morgan Academy’s Defensive Coordinator. The banquet will begin at 7 p.m. with a reception at 6:15 p.m.

To qualify as an inductee, a person must have at least 15 years experience in the AISA as a coach and/or an administrator, be nominated by a participating school, and must be voted on by the AISA Hall of Fame Committee.