The late, legendary Bob Finley — while serving as head coach at the old W.A. Berry High School in Hoover — taught his students as much about integrity and character as he did about football.
Finley taught hundreds of young people — both athletes and non-athletes — the importance of such values as humility, discipline, hard work, honesty, loyalty, generosity and compassion.
Not only that, but he actually lived those values and taught young people by example.
Finley, who died in 1994, left a tremendous legacy because of the thousands of people he influenced and his impact on the entire community.
That’s why the Hoover City Schools, since 1996, have bestowed the annual Finley Awards to promote character.
“Coach Finley made a difference for so many people, and he continues to make a difference,” says Dr. Amanda Esslinger, the principal at Spain Park High School. “Even decades after death, his legacy lives on because of the man, teacher and coach he was.”
Each year, The Finley Awards honor one senior from each high school and one Hoover City Schools employee. The awards program also bestows recognitions of good character to students in each Hoover school, beginning in kindergarten.
The Finley Awards are important because they encourage personal qualities that students will really need in their adult lives.
“School is a lot more than doing well in math class or winning the game on Friday night,”Dr. Esslinger says. “It is about the skills you need to succeed in the real world. The award does a great job of recognizing these qualities that help a student to be successful and continue to make a difference like Coach Finley did.”
Coach Finley also remains an inspiration to other teachers. “As an educator, it is inspiring to see the difference that one person can make,”Dr. Esslinger says.
The Finley Committee is chaired by Stephen Burns. A former Finley Award Winner at Hoover High School, Rotimi Kukoyi — now attending UNC-Chapel Hill — was recently named a Rhodes Scholar for 2026.
2026 Finley Awards Season
January is the beginning of the 2026 Finley Awards season, and the following events are scheduled:
- Teachers in the Trenches Breakfast: January 29 at Hoover Randle Home & Gardens
- Finley Recognition Announcements: Award nominees will be announced in February
- Senior Nominees Breakfast: March 4 at The Finley Center
- Finley Awards Recognition: March 19 at The Finley Center
For more about the Finley Awards, go to hoovercityschools.net/finleyawards
