CULLMAN, Ala. – At his apartment in Huntsville, Cullman native Shaun Smith would hear the roar of the crowd, the music and the fans from games of the Huntsville Rockets, a semi-professional football team, and think to himself, “why doesn’t Cullman have this?”
So, after returning to the area this spring, he got together with friend and now-business partner, Dakota Bailey, to work on bringing the city its own team, one they’ve dubbed the Cullman Coyotes.
Only two months removed from the creation of their Facebook page, the Coyotes’ slate is clean. Outside of Smith, the founder, and Bailey, team president, the roster is in early stages of building, and they’re in need of coaches, equipment, a field and fanbase.
The project may be bare-bones, but the vision is clear: Smith and Bailey want to create not just a team, but a piece of Cullman.
“The goal is a championship, in whatever league it is that we find ourselves in, but success to me, it’s building a brotherhood. At the end of the day, if the win-loss column skews our way, fantastic, but this is more about building fellowship and relationships within our community than it is anything else,” Smith said. He added, “any chance that we have for our guys to serve this community, I want us to be there and I want us to do that.”
Aiming to play their first game in spring of 2027, the Coyotes’ management have begun meeting with league commissioners and owners of other semi-pro teams in the southeast, like the Quad City Flames of Florence and the Panama City Panthers. While they’re finding future opponents, they’re also meeting with the owners to get advice on getting the team up and running.
As far as a future home field goes, it’s up in the air. For regular season home games, West Elementary was named as a potential field, with Smith noting instead of concessions, he wanted to host local food trucks for fans to enjoy. For potential playoff matchups, however, the duo hopes to one day be able to host them at Oliver Woodard Stadium, the home of the Cullman High Bearcats.
Both opponents and players have come naturally, though. The Coyotes have already received interest from former college players who want another opportunity to get on the gridiron.
Bailey, a Fairview grad with a background in sports broadcasting, cited the iconic “Field of Dreams” line, saying “If you build it, they will come,” in reference to the roster. For many, being part of a team and playing the sport they love will be enough. But for some, it will be an opportunity to potentially play the sport at collegiate level again. With NCAA rule changes regarding eligibility and the games being filmed, athletes who previously had to quit due to injury could have another chance.
As the roster continues to fill out, the Coyotes’ main concern is in finding coaches. Smith said they don’t just want “Xs and Os guys,” either. They’re looking for leaders that will prioritize building player character just as much as the on-field product.
With their focus on helping strengthen Cullman’s community, the Coyotes will continue trying to rally support in the coming months. Their Facebook page has continued to gain traction, and Smith and Bailey have held monthly meetings to inform people of their mission and try to find additional members to become involved.
“There’s no shortage of ways for people to get involved with us,” Smith said, adding, “We’re not here trying to get rich, what we’re trying to do is build a ramp to help people build something better for themselves.”
