Calhoun announces women’s flag football coach, tryouts

DECATUR – Calhoun Community College has selected Bart Stephenson to be the head coach of the newly created women’s flag football team.

“We are extremely proud to announce the appointment of our very own Bart Stephenson as the head coach of Calhoun’s new women’s flag football team,” said Dr. Jimmy Hodges, Calhoun President. “Coach Stephenson’s passion for athletics, extensive coaching experience across multiple sports, and dedication to student-athlete development make him the perfect leader to launch this groundbreaking program. We are confident he will build a strong, competitive team while promoting both academic and personal growth,” Hodges adds.

Stephenson, who is entering his sixth coaching season at Calhoun, also serves as the head softball and intramural sports coach. He brings over 17 years of coaching experience in football, baseball, basketball, and softball at the high school level.

A graduate of Mt. Hope High School, Stephenson was a standout three-sport athlete, earning All-State honors in football and excelling in baseball with an impressive .497 batting average and 14 home runs. His collegiate career at Northwest Community College was equally remarkable, where he earned MVP honors with batting averages of .398 as a freshman and .397 as a sophomore.

In 2008, Stephenson earned a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education from Athens State University. His achievements on and off the field earned him induction into the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame alongside his father, Elwyn, and brother, Stan Stephenson. Recognized for his outstanding coaching abilities, he was named Coach of the Year by the Decatur Daily in 2014. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been selected,” said Stephenson. “The trust that my director and the college’s administration have placed in me to develop and lead this program is deeply humbling. My aim is not only to recruit a talented and competitive team, but also to create scholarship opportunities for young women striving to earn their college degrees,” added Stephenson.

This Flag Football Showcase/Combine will offer athletes an opportunity to display their skills and compete for full-tuition scholarships to Calhoun.

The tryout details are as follows:

Date: Sunday, March 9 Location: Calhoun Community College (Building TBD) Check-In: 1:30 PM Combine: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Cost: $50 per player

For information about tryouts, contact Coach Stephenson at 256-306-2983 or email at bart.stephenson@calhoun.edu.