Season of change for area athletic programs
For the Enquirer
Change is the theme for local athletic programs as they head into the 202425 school season. From changes in classifications to regions to coaches, change has hit each local school in major ways this off-season.
Hartselle
Changes to the Hartselle athletic program started in January when Jake Miles was named the new athletic director, replacing Pat Smith following his retirement.
Miles hit the ground running with the hire of football coach Bert Newton, who replaced Bryan Moore. More changes were soon to follow with the hiring of new baseball coach Brad Phillips, new wrestling coach Ashton Quattlebaum and new boys’ basketball coach Josh Golden, who replaced Hartselle’s all-time winningest coach Faron Key, who left for Wallace State.
Priceville
The Bulldogs’ athletic department just hasn’t experienced changes, it has had a major overhaul. Over the past seven months, everything that Priceville fans have come to know has changed.
It started in December when Priceville found out that they would be moving up in classification to Class 5A in all sports. Gone are the days of facing Deshler, Madison County, DAR and Rogers with matchups with Russellville, Fairview and Lawrence County on the horizon in football. Basketball, baseball and softball will now be in an area with Brewer, Ardmore and East Limestone.
Leadership in football, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball and baseball have all changed as the Bulldogs step up in classification. New football coach Seth Parker replaces Chris Foster, who left for Brookwood. Shane Childress replaces Priceville’s alltime winningest girls’ basketball coach Terrie Nelson, who retired following the season. Dale Taylor returns home to replace JR Dilbeck, who resigned in June. And most recently, Preston Potter, who has built the Bulldogs’ baseball program into a perennial playoff contender, left for Austin.
Danville
The Hawks have seen their fair share of changes in both classification and leadership. Danville will step up to Class 4A this season in all sports. And the Hawks’ will have new coaches in boys’ basketball and softball. Ben Mastin, who left for Decatur, was replaced by former Elkmont coach Samuel Wallace, while Christy Ferguson was replaced by Sydnee Fitzgerald.
Brewer
The Patriots have seen changes in girls’ basketball and softball. Girls’ basketball coach Colton Smith resigned following the season. Softball coach Braeden Netherton was named as the new head coach at Bob Jones last week.
Falkville
The Blue Devils’ have seen the fewest changes of any of the local teams. They will move from Class 2A Region 8 to Region 6 in football. The only coaching change has been hiring Christy Ferguson, formerly of Danville and Hartselle, as their new head softball coach.
