Chelsea among schools welcoming new coaches
A handful of local high school sports teams will have new coaches at the outset of the 2018-19 academic year.
The biggest change of leadership comes from Chelsea High School, as the Hornets hired Dustin Goodwin to lead their football program. Goodwin comes to Chelsea after a three-year stint as head coach at Plainview High School in Rainsville. In each of his three seasons, Plainview posted a winning record and qualified for the playoffs.
“We’re extremely excited,” said Goodwin. “We’ve heard nothing but great things about the kids and the community. We’re excited to insert ourselves in the community and get started.”
Chris Elmore accepted the head coaching position at Fort Payne, his alma mater, in late April. Chelsea announced Goodwin’s hire in the middle of May. The Hornets went 2-8 last season but made the playoffs in 2015 and 2016.
Prior to his time at Plainview, Goodwin spent time as the offensive coordinator at Hueytown, Homewood and Russellville.
“We’re going to do everything the right way and do it to the best of our ability,” he said. “We want to set a standard to where we get a little better each day. If you handle the little things, the big things take care of themselves.”
Chelsea will also have a new girls basketball coach, as Jason Harlow takes over for Lori Weber. Harlow will be tasked with rebuilding a Lady Hornets program that posted a 5-22 record last season.
The team’s top scorer each of the last two years, Michaella Edwards, also transferred to a prep school during the summer.
At Spain Park, the Jags hired Chris Laatsch away from Helena to lead the boys basketball program. Laatsch has a track record of success, most recently at Briarwood Christian School and Helena. He was at Briarwood for 16 years before spending the last four starting the program at Helena.
Laatsch said, “We’re going to work hard and we’re going to try to put a good product on the floor. But most importantly, we’re going to try to have a program that develops character in men, that they’ll be great men, husbands and fathers one day. That’s going to be the foundation of our program.”
Laatsch takes over for Donnie Quinn, who retired after last season.
The only coaching change at Oak Mountain is also on the hardwood, as Beth Parmer has been elevated from her assistant coaching position and will take over as head coach of the girls basketball program. Allen McGowan resigned to take a position on the Birmingham-Southern College coaching staff.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the support that I have received from the Oak Mountain community,” Parmer said. “There seems to be an excitement in girls basketball, I’m sure because of the new coaches, new players, etc.”
Briarwood has a pair of new head coaches, with Emily Ward taking over the swimming program for the Lions and Lorie Kerley moving into the head girls basketball coaching position.
Kerley has coached basketball at Briarwood for nine years and follows Jim Brown, who stepped down following a successful season last winter. Brown picked up his 500th career win and led the Lady Lions to a Class 5A, Area 8 title and sub-regional appearance. Brown will take over the eighth grade girls basketball team this season.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in the July print edition. On July 23, Oak Mountain announced the hire of David DiPiazza as the new boys soccer coach. The position came open following the departure of Dan DeMasters, who accepted a coaching position at Thompson High.