MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Longtime Head Baseball Coach Larry Watkins has stepped down to take an administrative position within the Athletic Department, Athletic Director Stacy Danley announced Tuesday.
In other coaching moves, Head Volleyball Coach Sonia Price and Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Bernard Sewell were relieved of their duties.
Assistant Coach Anthony Macon has been named Interim Head Baseball Coach, and Assistant Coach Frederick Whitt has been named Interim Head Volleyball Coach.
Watkins served as head baseball coach for 30 seasons and was just the third baseball coach in the school’s history. A 1974 ASU graduate who played centerfield, Watkins became assistant coach upon graduation and was named head coach in 1982. This past season, the Hornets went 14-29 overall, 6-18 in conference play and were eliminated in the first round of Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.
“To be associated with a program for more than 40 years takes a special individual,” Danley said. “Coach Watkins is truly that person, one who has been tremendously dedicated to ASU and the baseball program. In this day and time, serving as head coach for 30 consecutive years at one school speaks of Coach Watkins’ devotion and is a milestone that will be difficult to match. I am looking forward to working with him in this new capacity.”
Price had served as head volleyball coach for 16 seasons (1995-2010), while Sewell led the tennis programs for 14 seasons (1997-2011).
“After careful evaluation of the past history of each program, we are not receiving the needed results and will go in a different direction,” Danley said. “We will conduct a national search for whom we believe is the best candidate to lead these respective programs to a championship level.”
Last season, ASU Volleyball posted a 12-21 overall record and 3-5 in conference play as the Lady Hornets were eliminated in the second round of the SWAC Tournament. Price came to Alabama State in 1992 as an assistant coach in volleyball and women’s basketball. She was named interim head volleyball coach in 1995 and became the permanent head coach one year later after relinquishing her role with women’s basketball. Price also was Interim Athletic Director from August 2003-April 2004.
Sewell led the Lady Hornets to the 1999 SWAC Tennis Championship. This past season, the men’s team was eliminated in the first round of the SWAC Tournament, while the women’s team failed to qualify for postseason play.
This was a good move. Good to see that we have an AD that is holding coaches accountable. We appreciate the service, but it’s time to move on to replace coaches that are NOT winning.