If you’re going to put together an arena football franchise, you’ll need a lot of things, from the arena to the athletes, from the front office to the turf. Though you can have the nicest of everything, none of it means anything if you don’t have the right leadership. The Montgomery Catfish took this to heart and went on a long, thorough journey to find theirs, even consulting with others with years of experience in the sport. What you’ll find is that they didn’t settle on who they could find, but got the coach they wanted.
Montgomery went through and found the type of coach that will make them successful from the starting line. Starting with a long-time player with relevant coaching experience. Some of his staff may be brand new to the level they are coming in at, and others are already geared for the season ahead. While we can’t drop all of the coaching staff, we are excited to announce the first head coach of the Montgomery Catfish, Julius Gregory.
Coaching Experience:
Gregory, though this is his first head-coaching job, has been in and around the sport for over 14 years. He spent 12 of those years as a player, with teams in the AIF, PIFL, NAL, and the Arena Football League. After what anyone would consider a successful career, he traded in the helmet and, under a year later, picked up the headset. In 2025, he followed his former coach, Brandon Negron, to Omaha.
His time in Omaha was pivotal to growing as a coach, getting time under the lights with live reps as an offensive coordinator. Though he didn’t get the chance to spend a full season with the Beef, the offensive production was noticeably elevated while he was at the helm. It’s a major jump to go from trainers’ tape to clipboard, and what better place than under an experienced head coach with a long-term franchise like the Beef?
As of 2026, he was with the Carolina Predators as the Offensive Coordinator, keeping his skills fresh as he waited on an opportunity to step up and prove his value as a head signal caller. While the 2026 Predators season didn’t go to plan, don’t let that record fool you. Despite limited resources at the developmental level, he planned his offense for the athletes he had. He has a lot to prove, but if you look deep into his experience and knowledge of the game, he is a perfect fit for Montgomery, a building coach for a building franchise.
Playing Career
Similar to most long-term arena football players, his career began in college, suiting up for the Shaw Bears from 2007 until he graduated in 2010. Then, in 2012, he signed with his first team, the Carolina Force of the original AIF. He saw success and, after a year away, signed with the York Capitols, where he would win Co-MVP in 2014. From the 2015 season until the demise of the Arena Football League, he would be on a roster until the Demise of the league in 2019. After the AFL?
Well, he would jump to the NAL, this time mostly with the Carolina Cobras (hence the connection to Negron), leaving for a short time to the ill-fated Fayetteville Mustangs, and then finally back to Carolina. During the latter part of his playing career, he became known for his mentorship of rookies and less-experienced guys. A trait that will lend itself well to leading a team.
Our Thoughts:
He comes highly recommended, and with that recommendation comes expectation. We believe he has the skills, years of experience, and coaching acumen that will serve him well and possibly lead to winning. As we have all seen, coaching can take an arena team so far; rest assured, he will have what he needs to be successful. The ownership group around him has left no stone unturned when it comes to housing, player accommodations, and resources. They are committed to ensuring he will have what he needs to mold a group of athletes into a winning team in 2027.
We at Shady Sports are excited to see how Coach Gregory progresses, as well as the Catfish! If you’re a fan of the sport or dialed into Alabama’s newest (and only) professional arena football team, keep checking in! We will have a ton of “heard here first” articles coming out on Montgomery and the American Arena League all off-season long!
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Give Away
We are currently doing a giveaway to win a piece of Sioux Falls Storm turf that the team once used in games. There is now a second way to enter. Donate any amount of money to Sammy Strong Foundation, take a screenshot of the “Thank You for Donating to Sammy Strong” image after your donation, and send it to us on any social media platform to automatically enter to win.
https://givebutter.com/SammyStrong26
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