Bob Jones hires Langston from Muscle Shoals as new baseball coach
new Bob Jones baseball coach David Langston
(PHOTO CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON- Less than a week after Jeff Bell stepped down as baseball coach at Bob Jones, a new coach has been hired.
Principal Robby Parker and Athletic Director John Wilson interviewed several candidates and chose Muscle Shoals Head Baseball Coach David Langston. Langston is a former baseball coach at Northwest Shoals Community College.
He was confirmed by the Madison BOE at its June 18 meeting.
Wilson said Bell leaving did not catch him totally by surprise and that Langston was one of the guys on a short list of coaches he considered.
“We were impressed with what he did at Northwest Shoals and some of our former players who signed with Northwest Shoals spoke very highly of him,” Wilson said.
“He was one of our top candidates we wanted to interview. His body of work at Northwest Shoals and at Muscle Shoals and the impact he had on many of our former players was impressive. He is a very humble man but he is a proven winner and a proven leader,” Wilson added.
Current Bob Jones assistant varsity head coach and pitching Coach Jonas Bailey was among those interviewed.
“Jonas interviewed very well,” Wilson said. “I hope he stays with us because he is a fine teacher and a good young coach.”
It has not yet been determined whether Langston can bring any assistants with him. Bob Jones lost some teaching units this year because of decreased enrollment.
“We lost some fine teachers because of the reduction in units so it’s going to be difficult for him to bring somebody else based on our current situation,” Wilson said.
When Northwest Shoals Community College discontinued its athletic program in 2011 Langston moved to Muscle Shoals High School and turned the Trojans around, leading them to a 23-14 record and their first playoff berth since 2009. In 2012 the Trojans won Class 5A, Area 16 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs defeating Lee-Huntsville.
He also coached 2013 Auburn signee Blake Logan.
Wilson said a press conference to introduce Langston to the community will be scheduled in the near future.
Bell announced June 12 that he was leaving Bob Jones to take an administrative post at Lincoln County High School in Tennessee.
