With the return of prep sports just around the corner, local schools are finalizing their coaching staffs after an offseason of moves.
At Carroll Academy, new athletic director Stephen Crenshaw promoted assistant Zach Whitfield to head baseball coach. Whitfield replaces the Rebels’ previous head coach, Stacy Hester, who left to take the same position at Manchester Academy.
“It’s always something I’ve wanted to do,” said Whitfield, who played high school baseball at Indianola Academy. “Even back in high school, I was a shortstop directing and leading my team. I had parents, grandparents and other families tell me, ‘Hey, you’re going to make a great coach one day.’ Hopefully I am and hopefully they were right.”
When Crenshaw was at Kirk Academy, he used to coach against Whitfield, whose leadership stood out back then.
“What always impressed me was he came and shook my hand after every game. Every game,” Crenshaw recalled. “He was just that kind of kid. When I was at Kirk, he’d come see me once every two or three months and we’d just talk ball.
“Baseball is his life,” Crenshaw added. “This is a dream for him and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Last season, Carroll (16-6) averaged a whopping 11 runs per game at the plate, but struggled with mistakes in the field and on the mound. Pitching and defense will be two areas of focus under Whitfield.
“I saw a lot of good things from that last year,” Whitfield said. “Hopefully we will build on defense, because defense keeps you in a lot of games. Throwing strikes and playing defense works to your advantage.”
Crenshaw is also bringing in Austin Woodall as an assistant with the baseball and football programs.
Woodall played football at Grenada and baseball at Winona High, eventually going on to play Division III baseball at the Mississippi University for Women. The former catcher plans to call pitches for Whitfield’s squad.
“I’m excited about the program and ready to see where it goes,” said the 22-year-old Woodall.
Woodall will also help head football coach Bo Milton in the weight room. Additionally, third-year teacher Austin Brewer was added to the football staff to help fill a pair of vacancies on the Rebels’ sidelines. This offseason, Carroll lost acclaimed strength specialist Chris Wilson and assistant football coach Tommy Acy, both to nearby Pillow Academy.
At J.Z. George, veteran linemen coach Thomas Blumette is joining second-year head coach Rusty Smith’s staff in North Carrollton.
A former assistant at Leflore County and Amanda Elzy, Blumette enjoyed his first day at his new job on Tuesday.
Blumette will also be teaching special education and science at J.Z. George.
-Contact Riley Overend at 581-7237 or roverend@gw-commonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
