Jody Atwood
Jody Atwood didn’t plan to be back on the softball field next spring.
Lebanon High had other ideas.
Four days after Devilette head coach Chris Spurlock resigned, Atwood was named his replacement.
Lebanon athletic director Zach Martin contacted Atwood – who had planned to teach and coach at Lebanon’s Winfree Bryant Middle School during the upcoming school year – shortly after Spurlock’s resignation last Thursday.
“At first, I said no,” Atwood said. “It just wasn’t the right time. The athletic director called back four or five hours later and said ‘have you thought about it anymore?’ It led to me thinking about it and praying about it.
“You have to follow your heart in every decision you make. I did.”
The 39-year-old has spent the last nine years at Friendship Christian School, serving as an assistant football coach and then the head softball coach for the past six seasons. Prior to that, he was an assistant baseball coach, assistant varsity football coach and head freshman football coach at Wilson Central High School.
Ingram hired as Friendship softball coach
Atwood led Friendship Christian to Class A sectional appearances in three of his first four seasons and then to the state championship game in Division II-Class A the last two years, winning the 2015 state title and compiling a 161-81-1 mark over that six-year span. Atwood resigned at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
Jody Atwood led Friendship Christian to back-to-back appearances in the Division II-Class A state championship game.
He is a Lebanon High graduate who was an infielder/pitcher for the Cumberland University baseball program, helping the Phoenix to three NAIA appearances during his career (from 1996-99). He also served as a graduate assistant for one year at Cumberland.
“This was having the opportunity to go back to my alma mater,” said Atwood, who will teach history and government classes. “It’s a great school. Mr. (Scott) Walters (the principal) has a great vision for the school. It’s great to have the opportunity to teach and coach there.”
Spurlock left the program after one season to enter the private sector.
Lebanon softball coach Chris Spurlock resigns
“I never dreamed it would happen this quickly,” Atwood said. “It’s been a crazy 48 hours.”
Lebanon improved from 12-16 in 2015 to 25-18-1 this spring. Lebanon placed fourth in District 9-AAA during the regular season and also in the 9-AAA Tournament. The Devilettes have not advanced to the regional tournament since 2007.
Lebanon lost five seniors to graduation.
“This is a chance to build on what Coach Spurlock did,” Atwood said. “Chris did an excellent job. He laid a foundation of what you want in the program. The girls are excited and working hard, and the parents are excited about the direction of the program. It’s definitely on the rise, and Chris is the main reason for that.
“Once reason I decided to (take the job) is because I believe it’s headed in the right direction. The sky is the limit as far as facilities and trying to get the team to that (elite) level year in and year out.”
Reach Craig Harris at crharris@tennessean.com . Follow him on Twitter @CHTennessean.
