Tiggs resigns basketball post at James Clemens, moves to Bob Jones as AP/AD
Former James Clemens basketball coach Luther Tiggs moves to Bob Jones as Assistant Principal
(File Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- There will be a new men’s basketball coach at James Clemens this fall. Luther Tiggs has been the coach since the school opened two years ago. At the July 10 Madison City School Board meeting Tiggs was approved as the new Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Bob Jones.
“It is what I have done my whole career but I knew at some point in time I would stop coaching,” Tiggs said in an interview earlier this week. “I wanted to stay in education to make a difference in young peoples lives. I am starting a new chapter but I am still having an impact on kid’s lives, just in a different capacity.”
Tiggs steps down after 25 years as a basketball coach with stops at Decatur, Austin, Buckhorn, and Sparkman before coming to James Clemens.
Highlights of Tiggs’ two seasons include an Area 16 Championship last year with an 18-9 record. Overall the Jets went 38-24 in the two seasons. The Jets season ended with a tough 55-53 home loss to Bob Jones in a state sub-regional playoff game.
“I’m so grateful to Madison City Schools and Dr. Fowler for giving me the opportunity to build a new program from scratch. We’ve laid a good foundation. The program is in good shape.”
Assistant coaches David Hill and Travis Hunt have been working with the players this summer on conditioning and play dates.
“We had Buck Johnson who played in the NBA and Fernandez Lockett who played in college at Austin Peay as volunteer coaches and those four guys did a great job for me and are keeping the program going in my absence,” Tiggs said.
Tiggs has undergraduate and masters degrees from UNA.
“I’ve prepared myself for this opportunity by going back to school and upgrading my education certificate.”
Tiggs actually resigned in June to allow James Clemens Principal Brian Clayton to announce the coaching vacancy.
Now that the move is official Clayton can go ahead and begin the hiring process.
“I’m looking forward to working with that staff and Mr. Parker at Bob Jones,” Tiggs said. “Obviously they have a great institution and have had a lot of success in athletics. I have been in athletics all of my career so I just want to be an asset and make it better. It is already in great shape.”
Tiggs recently completed the requirements for and received an Education Instructional Leadership for Administration Certificate from UNA.
“I’ve got a lot to learn as an administrator but this is a challenge I accept and it is what I wanted at this point in my career.”
