White Plains, AL – Wildcats”year” of change continues as they make changes within the softball program, just a few days after the they played in the state tournament.
by Joe Medley
White Plains’ big year of transitions in coaching continues this week, with an overhaul of the softball team that took part in the state championship this week.
Lex Hull-Muncher who worked as an assistant coach during the season, has been named interim head coach. She will take the reins from the previous Head Coach Tiffany Williams.
An interim head coach will be scheduled to be approved during the 6th of June Calhoun County Board of Education meeting. Similar to Girls’ Basketball team and Clay Sprayberry as the interim head coach. Clay Sprayberry serving as interim head coach following Matt Ford stepped back from coaching in March.
White Plains has witnessed the head coach of the varsity team change in volleyball, football girls basketball, baseball, and softball in the 2022-23 school year.
The Calhoun County Board of Education was in favor of the former Donoho and Sylacauga head coach Jamie Clendenin’s appointment for volleyball in the last week. Blake Jennings, a long-time assistant to the football team and director at Ohatchee has been named White Plains’ new head coach for both sports.
“In my 18-year tenure as that I’ve been as an administrator, I’ve probably not had so many modifications (in the span of one calendar year),” White Plains chief Andy Ward said. “I think that with change comes an element of excitement, too which isn’t a problem for the coaches who have been involved in these sports. They’re all fantastic individuals, and I’ve been enjoying working with them.”
Transitions began this time one year before, when the an experienced softball player Rachel Ford, for whom the field’s name is derived has announced that she will take a break from coaching in order to focus on the sports career of her children.
Williams got promoted to take over Rachel Ford and guided White Plains to a record of 31-16 in 2023. The Wildcats have won regional and area championships and overcome three injuries that ended their season to qualify for the finals of the State Tournament for the first time since their run in 2019.
Williams will also teach math, and will be transferring from high school to middle school.
“The scenario was that in our neighborhood she was required to go to the middle schools in order to instruct math classes,” Ward said. “When you’re on an entirely different campus, it’s a lot harder to keep track of the exercises and other things you need to do in order to be a successful head coach.
“Coach Williams understands that. It’s not an instance where she performed poorly or even softball related in any way. It’s an instance where she was in need elsewhere and I think she’s aware of that and she’s happy with the move.”
