Danny Petty Says Goodbye: Retires As Coach-Teacher
MADISON- Saying goodbye is usually a very emotional feeling and many times sad. For Danny Petty, saying goodbye was certainly sad for the longtime basketball coach, but it also was the start of something joyous and exciting.
The 68-year old Petty officially said his goodbyes as he retired from coaching and teaching after 47 years at the recent James Clemens basketball end-of-year banquet. Petty was honored at the completion of the banquet for the team he has coached since 2014.
“It was a very emotional time for me and I’m very excited about my retirement from being an educator,” said Petty. “I have a plan to travel and watch basketball as a non-coach for the first time in nearly 50 years.”
The retirement wasn’t the first time for Petty, who retired from teaching in Alabama 32 years ago so he could coach at Lincoln County High in nearby Fayetteville, Tenn. He returned to Alabama in 2001 coaching for Madison Academy, Bob Jones and James Clemens. In 2012, he retired for a second time after six years at Bob Jones, but changed his mind four months later when the school asked him to return, which he did for two more seasons before finally moving over to James Clemens two years later.
Along the way, he has won 776 games and three state championships becoming the first coach in Alabama to win state titles at three different schools. His teams won state titles at Johnson (1987), Madison Academy (2006) and Bob Jones (2010). He has coached both boys and girls programs. He was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
“I’ve loved everywhere I’ve coached and God has blessed me with good players and assistant coaches,” said Petty who also coached at Hazel Green High and David Hills Middle School during his career.
“Coach Petty is an awesome basketball coach but even a better person. It was a true honor to work with him over the past five years and wish him well in his retirement,” said Dr. Brian Clayton, principal at James Clemens.
As a youngster, Petty was a dominating player on the court leading Lee High of Huntsville to the 1968 Class 4A state championship and later played at both Snead State and Athens State. His playing days did not stop there as he’s been a longtime fixture in senior basketball with his local team winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the National Senior Games. This June, Petty and his senior teammates will make another pass at possible medal winnings as they’ll participate in the National Senior Games to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“The banquet was awesome as we honored our 2019 team and then I was at center-stage as Dr. Clayton spoke, the booster club gave me several gift certificates and presented me with a special honorary collage depicting my career through the years,” said Petty.
Besides the upcoming senior basketball, Petty won’t be sitting around during his retirement. On May 25, he and his fiancé will be married as he’s selling his home to move in with her. “She has a nice huge garage where I’ll set up my man-cave and that’s where I plan on hanging the nice framed collage I received,” added Petty.
Besides his emotions upon his retirement at the banquet, Petty also became emotional during his speech as he spoke of a longtime friend, Bill Lusk, who had become his media specialist for several years. Lusk died last July of cancer.
“Bill had been with me since I was at Madison Academy and I coached his son, Taylor, at Madison Academy,” added Petty. “Taylor is now a pilot in the Air Force. I acknowledged Bill’s wife and daughter who were at the banquet. Last season wasn’t the same without him.”
Ask anyone associated with high school basketball in the Tennessee Valley and the next season of play won’t be the same without Danny Petty.
James Clemens is scheduled to host a retirement reception in honor of Petty on Sunday, April 14 beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
