Fulmer, the Weaver grad and coach who reclaimed Gene Taylor-ere glory for the Bearcats’ wrestling program, to coach as an assistant a multisport Cleburne County.
By Joe Medley
Andy Fulmer wrestled under the legendary Gene Taylor at Weaver and went on to coach Weaver to three consecutive state tiles.
Fulmer is and will always be synonymous with Weaver, but he’s on the move after 21 years coaching there.
Fulmer,n 45, submitted his resignation Wednesday morning and informed his wrestling and softball teams of he plans to coach at Cleburne County High School. The Cleburne County Board of Education approved his hiring Monday.
He will serve as an assistant coach in football, baseball and wrestling starting in the 2025-26 school year.
The move comes after he reclaimed Taylor-era glory for Weaver wrestling. The Bearcats’ boys won three classic Class 1A-4A state titles, won a state duals title and achieved two runner-up finishes in a five-year span that ended with a runner-up finish in February.
He also jumped with both feet into girls’ wrestling five years ago, building a program that won the first-ever AHSAA-sanctioned Class 1A-5A state title in February.
This a year after the Weaver girls finished fifth behind four Class 7A schools at the then-de facto state tournament in 2024.
Fulmer has a resume worthy of Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame consideration,but he’ll become a multi-sport assistant in Cleburne County. Son Cael, a freshman who wrestles and plays baseball, will follow his dad to Heflin.
Daughter Kinley graduated from Weaver, where she wrestled and played softball.
“It’ just a much needed change for our family,” Fulmer said. “It’s a great opportunity and a fresh start, and I’ll be able to be a part o Cael’s last three years of school. This past year, I didn’t get to coach him (in baseball) because I was coaching softball.
“Softball and wrestling has been great for me here, but I just feel like it was time for me to go. He and I, it’s a a good change for our family, and it’ll be less stress taking on three assistant coaching jobs instead of two head coaching jobs.”
Fulmer graduated from Weaver in 1998. His teaching and coaching career started with one year at Wellborn before he returned to his alma mater.
He took over Weaver’s wrestling program after Taylor retired. Fulmer also was an assistant coach in football and softball before becoming the head softball coach two years ago, after Gary Atchley left for Jacksonville.
“It took us a little while to get the wrestling program back the way we wanted it,” he said. “The championships are great … the duals, the traditional championships, the two runners-up finishes … but the relationships and the lifelong memories that my family and I have been able to make with a lot of really good people out here is probably the toughest thing to leave, but we’re excited about the next chapter.
“My kids and my wife and I, all we’ve known, pretty much, is Weaver. I’ve been in the county for 22 years and been at Weaver for 21. My daughter, all she’s known is Weaver, and she’s upset about it because it’s a big change.”
