GULF SHORES – The search for the next Gulf Shores football coach has been narrowed to four finalists, according to reports.

Gulf Shores defensive coordinator Jay Koziol, Gulf Shores assistant coach Marcus Early, former Bessemer Academy head coach Mark Freeman and Birmingham Southern offensive coordinator Joel Williams have been reported as finalists.

Freeman won four Alabama Independent Schools Association state championships in the last six years at Bessemer Academy. Koziol has been at Gulf Shores since 2006 after serving as Robertsdale’s head coach. Early has been an assistant at Gulf Shores, Foley and Daphne. Williams had been an assistant at Foley, UMS Wright, T.R. Miller, Mountain Brook, Samford and Ole Miss before joining the Birmingham Southern staff.

The school is expected to make an announcement soon regarding the hiring of a new football coach.