By Bart Moss / For the FCT

Four new coaches were hired at the most recent Franklin County Board of Education meeting. All hires were for the spring sports of baseball and softball.

Nathan Vincent and John Smith were hired as the new baseball and softball coaches at Belgreen High School, respectively. Susie Tverberg was hired as the new softball coach at Tharptown High School. Jordan Benford was hired as the new softball coach at Phil Campbell High School.

Vincent, who was an assistant coach at Belgreen this past spring, will take over the baseball program. Vincent is a graduate of Russellville High School, where he played baseball. From there he went to Wallace State Community College, where he was left fielder, and to the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he played third base.

He will take over the program from Clint Isbell, who will focus exclusively on basketball.

“First of all, I want to thank God, my family, friends, administrators, teachers and coaches for helping me get to where I am today – and that is being a teacher and coach,” said Vincent. “I am very excited about being the new baseball coach at a Belgreen. I want to build this program off of this past year’s success, making it to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

“I want to build a program around hard work and dedication,” Isbell added. “My goal is to prepare younger players to become better players and better men – as well as winning a state championship.”

Smith is a successful veteran softball coach by most anyone’s standards. He coached the Hatton Hornets to 160 wins and four straight 2A state championships from 2010-2013. Most recently he coached at Russellville from 2013-16, where he won 77 games and took the Golden Tigers to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Smith takes over the program from Chris Scott, who was terminated because of pending legal matters.

“I’m glad to be back in the game,” said Smith. “I sure have missed it. Belgreen is a great opportunity – the first job I’ve taken where the team is coming off a state tournament run. So the pressure is on.”

Smith said it is easier as a coach, from a pressure standpoint, to come into a program and build.

“We are blessed to have a top-notch assistant in Tommy Bruton, who has been at Russellville the last four years,” Smith added. “We have high expectations for these girls, and I know they will step up to the challenges. They have got to realize that they now have a target on their backs, and they will not sneak up on teams.

“I want to thank Mrs. Ann Scott, Coach Derek Ergle and Superintendent Greg Hamilton for this opportunity.”

Tverberg returns as the coach of the Tharptown Lady Wildcats, a job she held from 2007-2014. Tverberg had a record of 200-89 and took the Wildcats to the playoffs five of six years from 2008-2013.

She will take over from Tanna Benford, who vacated the program to focus exclusively on basketball.

“I am very blessed and grateful for this opportunity to lead the THS Lady Wildcats softball team,” said Tverberg. “I am also extremely appreciative and thankful to all of the people who made this possible for me. It is a title I will not take lightly.”

Tverberg said she is looking forward to “a bright future with such a talented group of athletes that have so much passion for the game of softball.”

“I am excited to share my love and knowledge of the game with this special group of ladies,” she added. “I feel Coach Benford and coaches Jonathon and Nichole Ergle have done a great job leading these girls in the right direction, and I hope to continue that.”

Tverberg said she sees extensive talent in the Wildcat team.

“I plan to help them improve their skills and encourage a competitive spirit so the drive to win becomes innate,” Tverberg said. “Personally, I feel playing for the intangibles is what separates great players from good players. As their coach, if I can get them to play for the intangibles by giving 100 percent, playing with energy, being competitive and remaining coachable, we will succeed as a team.”

Benford is a Phil Campbell graduate, where he was a standout baseball player. Benford also played college baseball at Alabama A&M in Huntsville. He will take over a program vacated by Doug Jackson, who resigned.

Benford said he is thankful for the opportunity.

“It’s a true blessing to be back in my hometown coaching, and I’m excited to start this new chapter as the Lady Bobcats’ head softball coach,” Benford said. “Last year was my first year with the girls as an assistant, and it went good. We have a talented group of young girls who have had a lot of success the last couple years, and we are only looking to continue that success moving forward.

“I think as a team, our only goal should be making it to the regional tournament and then add to the list of goals as we proceed further,” Benford added. “We have got to improve on each person’s individual craft at their position. Fundamentals and doing the small things is what’s going to determine the success that we have this season.

“I’m excited and can’t wait to get things going.”

There is one coaching vacancy remaining to be filled in Franklin County Schools. Jake Ward resigned as the head coach of the Vina Red Devils to return to his alma mater at Russellville High School.