Daugherty leaves James Clemens softball program for Wallace State
Daugherty in action from a game in 2016 (Contributed/David Swager)
MADISON- A.J. Daugherty, the only softball coach in the four year existence of James Clemens is leaving. He sent out an announcement Wednesday night on social media and Thursday handed in his official letter of resignation.
He was offered and accepted the head softball coach position at Wallace State- Hanceville. He was selected from over 50 applications and two rounds of interviews. Coach Jane Clem retired creating the opening.
Daugherty will not be moving his family from their Priceville home and that allowed him to pursue the job he had coveted since his days as a student assistant coach at Shelton State.
Still Daugherty said that it was a tough decision.
“Wallace State is a job I have always said if it came open I would pursue it. But because of the people here at James Clemens and the investment we’ve made here the last 4 years it was anything but an overnight decision. I talked it through with my family and decided if I didn’t pursue it I would regret it. I kept the administration updated on what was going on so they were not blindsided.”
Daugherty came to Madison from Tuscaloosa. This year’s team was ranked #1 in Class 7A for 6 straight weeks. They finished with a 51-11 record including a 20 game winning streak. They went to the state softball championships as a #1 seed but losses to Vestavia Hills and Spain Park ended their season short of a state title.
“I was reached out to in late March to apply,” Daugherty said. “I had an initial interview in April with a committee and found out I was a finalist. I had final interview the Monday after the state tournament. I was offered the job on Friday (May 27) and accepted the job Tuesday (June 1).”
Daugherty said that he will recruit this area hard with all the talent in North Alabama.
James Clemens loses four seniors including all their pitching so whoever replaces Daugherty will have to rebuild the pitching staff.
“The cupboard is certainly not bare here at James Clemens,” Daugherty said. “They return the majority of the starters and there is a lot of talent among the kids coming from Liberty including some pitching.”
Daugherty spent two years on staff at Alabama and always thought he might return to college to coach.
“I have been blessed with a personality that I can use in recruiting. I will not be outworked in any aspect of coaching especially when it comes to recruiting. Winning begins and ends with recruiting.”
There are no former Jets players at Wallace State currently. Caroline Payne signed with Shelton State and Emily Jacklin with Calhoun. Both those teams will face Daugherty’s Wallace State team next season.
“Caroline texted me and said you will have to change your signals, and I said yes someone in green might know them pretty well.”
