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After 25 years at Chambers County, Valley coach Marshon Harper announced his retirement on Wednesday in a post on social media.

Harper will go down as one of the most influential coaches in the history of Valley High School. Harper became Valley’s first African American head football coach in 2012 before stepping down in 2015 and serving as the defensive coordinator throughout the rest of his tenure.

Harper did his best work on the basketball court. In 2023, Harper led the Rams to a 33-0 season and the 5A state championship. Harper then led the Rams to the Final Four in 2024.

Harper led recruiting at Valley and oversaw four football players signing to play football at the next level just in the current graduating class. Harper’s son, Jay Harper, is set to play football at Wisconsin next season.

Harper graduated from Valley and had been the true testament of loyalty, spending the entirety of his coaching and teaching career with the Rams.