WEST POINT — The A.J. Lamar era hasn’t started for West Point High’s football program — at least not yet.

That’s the official version.

Lamar has already been hired as a physical education teacher at West Point. His transfer from Vinemont was approved at the last Cullman County Board of Education meeting.

His title as head football coach? That hasn’t been approved by the board yet — the CCBOE hasn’t finalized any new coaching supplements this summer.

So where does that leave Lamar? Does the future Warriors coach just remain idle until his hire has been officially approved?

Well, not exactly. That’s not his style.

“We’ve been hard at it,” said Lamar, who is expected to be named West Point’s new head football coach before fall practice begins in early August.

Hard at it for a couple months is more like it.

Even though the hire hasn’t been made official, Lamar’s fingerprints are all over West Point’s football program.

Lamar worked with West Point’s players during spring training earlier this year. He’s currently leading the Warriors through offseason workouts, which includes weight training, conditioning and other summer activities such as 7-on-7 passing camps.

Skill position players aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the seven days of competition allowed by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. West Point’s big men are getting in on the action, too.

“We’re sending our offensive and defensive linemen to a camp at Mountain Brook,” Lamar said. “That will be a good experience for them … should help them get some exposure.

“I want to do more things like that … more things that will help our kids get exposure.”

Those are just a few things Lamar has done since being recommended for the job by West Point’s administration.

And the presumptive Warriors coach doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon, either.

“I’m having a pretty good time right now, and I think the guys are too,” said Lamar, who compiled an 11-10 overall record with one playoff appearance in two seasons as Vinemont’s head football coach. He was a longtime assistant with the Eagles before taking the helm in 2007.

“Right now, I’m getting to know the players … getting a feel for who everyone is and what they’re about. The players are doing the same with me. They’ve found out that I’m intense, but I’m also an overgrown kid. It’s been pretty good.”

Lamar inherits a Class 4A team with good numbers in his first season. West Point finished spring training with around 72 players, and 64 of those have consistently shown up for offseason workouts.

Among West Point’s returning starters are two key players: Senior quarterback Luke Persall and junior offensive lineman Zach Douglas.

Both Persall and Douglas have the potential to be impact players. The same can be said about several others on the Warriors’ roster — including a talented group of youngsters that are coming up through the ranks.

Putting talent on the field doesn’t always translate into wins. Lamar has been preaching that to his new team since his arrival.

“Everything we’re doing right now, it’s extremely important,” he said. “This is when you become a winner, and I think this team is capable of being a winner … being competitive against everyone we play.

“The main thing we’ve got to do is get mentally and physically tougher. Working hard right now will help us get there.”

Lamar has spent most of his time preparing for next season, but he’s also taken care of a few technical issues. That includes the hole in West Point’s schedule.

When West End-Birmingham closed its doors last summer, every team in Class 4A, Region 5 was left with one less opponent. And since West Point was unable to fill the void, the Warriors had a bye in the eighth week of the season.

This year, there won’t be a bye week — at least not on West Point’s schedule.

After making a few phone calls, Lamar has a home game slated for West Point in the eighth week of the season. The Warriors will host Class 5A Woodlawn out of Birmingham.

West Point also travels to Oliver Woodard Stadium for a preseason jamboree against Cullman — an old rivalry game that used to bring a large gate for both schools.

“There’s a chance we could be going to 5A in the next few years, so those are the type of programs we have to get used to playing,” said Lamar, who was an All-State running back at Cullman before he helped North Alabama win three Division II national titles as starting fullback in the mid ’90s. “Playing bigger competition only makes you better.”

Lamar has high hopes for West Point. He also has a vision for the program’s future.

Now it’s just a matter of putting his plan into action.

“I’m really excited about this season and what we’re trying to do here at West Point,” Lamar said. “The community has been great. The players have been great. There’s really nothing I can complain about.

“Now all we have to do is win games. We’re working on that right now.”

‰ Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.