Morgan Academy football coach Josh Thacker will coach in the NAAPS (National Athletic Association of Private Schools) All American football game on Saturday in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Kickoff for the All-Star contest is 1 p.m. at Rocky Top Sports World.

Thacker will serve as offensive coordinator and coaching wide receivers in what’s considered the private schools’ equivalent of the Under Armour All-American game, consisting of the nation’s best players.

This is Thacker’s second All-Star game to coach in this season. He was offensive coordinator for the East team in the AISA All-Star game on Nov. 30.

Thacker, The Selma Times-Journal’s two-time football coach of the year, said it’s an honor to get selected.

“Being selected for something like this is a product of the fantastic coaches I’ve been able to surround myself with both as an assistant and now, a head coach,” Thacker said. “Nothing like this would ever be possible without great teammates, players, coaches, friends, family and administrators.

“I’m very humbled that our teams head coach, Bobby Carr, thought enough of me to include me on his staff,” Thacker continued. “As one of the coaches chosen from Alabama, I hope to represent Morgan Academy and the city of Selma with class. I’m very eager to go out and coach some of the nation’s best and brightest young athletes.”