South Gibson names new softball, volleyball coaches

Michael Odom
Jackson Sun

South Gibson announced this week that two girls athletic teams will have new coaches for the 2017-18 school year.

The Lady Hornets have announced Heidi Stallings as the new volleyball coach this fall and Baron Jimmerson as the new softball coach for next spring.

“I work with a couple of the South Gibson players through travel ball,” Jimmerson said. “My name got turned in, and I am thankful of South Gibson thinking of me to coach.”

Baron Jimmerson, South Gibson softball

Jimmerson spent four years as the coach at Madison before stepping down after the 2016 season to watch his daughter Alexus Jimmerson play at Jacksonville State.

“After Alexus went to college, I decided not to coach and watch her,” Jimmerson said. “I figured that I would get another hobby. But I coached a team this past fall, and I knew that this is what I wanted to do.”

He has spent several seasons coaching with the Lady Jaxx.

Joining Jimmerson’s staff will be Alex Ward, who spent last season as the head coach at Trenton Peabody and Bubba Cummings.

South Gibson made a trip to the Class AA state tournament two years ago, and Jimmerson believes this program can build to get back to that level.

“I know this program has been successful in the past,” he said. “I want to teach the girls fundamentals and be ready to compete against the top teams in the district. We just have to get the best out of the kids.”

Heidi Stallings, South Gibson volleyball

Stallings is entering her first season as a high school head coach. Her parents were missionaries, and she played volleyball at an international school in South Korea.

“I didn’t pursue this job at first, but I was hired at Medina Middle School as a teacher,” Stallings said. “I am going after my Master’s, and I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. They asked me if I was interested, and after meeting with the assistant principal, I was extremely interested.”

She has also spent the past couple years working at Union University with intramurals and training referees.

Stallings has talked to some of the girls on the team and is ready to get started.

“Talking with the seniors, they said the past year was a lot of transition, and I can tell that they want a coach that is invested in them,” Stallings said. “I know this is going to be a learning experience, but they seem excited.”

With Stallings getting married this weekend, tryouts have been extended at South Gibson for after the honeymoon.

“When I get back from the honeymoon, we are going to get right into tryouts to see what we have and where we are at talent-wise,” she said. “I want to see how deep is the playbook. I want them to have confidence in me, confidence in themselves and confidence in the team. We want to have that team chemistry, and then we want to get to a good level physically.”

Stallings is a recent graduate of Union University, and her soon-to-be husband Ryne Roper will be an assistant baseball coach with the Hornets. Roper played this past spring at Union.

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.