AHSAA | Alabama High School Athletic Association

DENISE AINSWORTH      Denise Ainsworth is a graduate of Wilson High School, the University of North Alabama and Southern Mississippi.       She was a highly successful coach, teacher and athletic administrator at Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery for 26 years      Her volleyball teams posted a 331-180 record, won state championships in 2002 and 2003 and made the state playoffs in 11 of her 14 seasons. Her softball teams compiled a 455-233-4 record, won seven state championships and made the state finals nine times in 10 state tournament appearances. The school’s softball field was named in her honor in 2012.       She was the National Christian School Association Coach of the Year in 2009 and was twice named the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A Softball Coach of the Year. She also was the NFHS Alabama Softball Coach of the Year in 2000 and the NFHS Section Coach of the Year in 2006.       In 2010 she began work with the AHSAA and serves as an assistant director.   LARRY DAVIDSON       Larry Davidson is a graduate of Hixson High School (Tenn.) and Jacksonville State University.      His entire coaching and teaching career has been spent in Calhoun County, including three years at Walter Wellborn High School before moving to Oxford High School in 1980.      During his 26 years as head basketball coach at Oxford, his teams compiled a 415-256 record, appeared in five regional tournaments, won six area championships and six county championships, made the playoffs 18 times and had seven seasons with 20-plus wins.      He also coached defensive backs and wide receivers for OHS football teams that won three state championships and coached tennis for 26 years. He moved into athletic administration in 2006 and serves as the athletic director at OHS.      Though successful on the court, the wins and losses do not define him as much as his character, sense of family and the positive impact he has had on students and fellow coaches.    BUDDY DAVIS       Buddy Davis was a graduate of Alabama State Laboratory High School and Alabama State University.      At ASU he participated in basketball, football and track. After playing football during his time in the Marine Corps, he played three years with the NFL’s Chicago Bears. He then became a successful teacher and coach at Montgomery’s Booker T. Washington High School      In 15 seasons there, his teams won more than 100 games and posted three undefeated seasons. Two undefeated teams never allowed more than one touchdown in a game When Washington was closed, Davis moved to Jeff Davis High School as an assistant football and track coach. While at Jeff Davis, the Vols posted three undefeated football seasons, including the 14-0 state champions in 1978.      Davis, remembered by his players for his relentless determination, is also a member of the Alabama State University Hall of Fame and the Montgomery Sports Hall of Fame   GREG ENGLAND      Greg England is a graduate of Tarrant High School where he was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football.      As a member of the Birmingham Basketball Officials Association for more than four decades, England became one of the state’s most respected officials, working 25 state tournaments and 10 regional tournaments. He also served as an assistant director for 10 other regional tournaments.      England officiated in two Alabama-Mississippi All-Star games and was one of the original state officials camp instructors. In 2000 he was named the Alabama Basketball Official of the Year by the NFHS and received the AHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 2012.      He held office in the BBOA for 32 years and remains a member. After stepping down as president, the group’s President’s Award, given annually to the official who demonstrates outstanding character and moral values, was renamed the Greg England President’s Award.      MIKE ESTES      Mike Estes is a graduate of Hokes Bluff High School, Jacksonville State University and the University of Alabama.      His Hokes Bluff baseball teams won nine state championships, three straight from 1975-77 and six straight from 2003-08. In 34 years his teams were 606-299 with 24 area titles.      More than 50 of his former players were offered college scholarships and two have played in the major leagues.      Estes has received numerous coaching honors, including the 2005 NFHS Alabama Baseball Coach of the Year Award and the 2008 Sammy Dunn Memorial Award. He is a member of the Alabama Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Etowah County Considered by administrators and colleagues to be a consummate match teacher, Estes has been praised for his dedication to all students.   JOE EVANS      Joe Evans is a graduate of R.B. Hudson High School in Selma, Bishop College in Texas and Alabama State University.      He spent his entire high school coaching career at Keith High School in Orrville where his teams won 10 area championships and posted an overall record of 378-85. Two teams won 30-plus games and five reached the state tournament semi-finals. He was a McDonald’s All-America Game coach in 1984 and served as Keith’s athletic director for seven years.      Evans was a successful assistant coach at UAB and later was athletic director at Lawson State Community College.      He then became just the third Associate Executive Director of the AHSAA, serving Alabama schools for 11-plus years. During that time, he coordinated the AHSAA Coaches’ Education Program as well as its annual Junior High/Middle School Conference. He also served on several national committees, including the NFHS Equity Committee.   STEVE GAYDOSH      Steve Gaydosh is a graduate of Amityville Memorial High School (N.Y.), Springfield College (Mass.) and the University of Tennessee.      After short coaching stints at Tuscola High School (N.C.) and the University of Tennessee, Gaydosh became head wrestling coach at Vestavia Hills High School in 1982. In 30 years there, his teams have won 12 state championships and been runner-up six times. Vestavia Hills wrestlers have won 75 individual state titles under his tutelage.      He has been named Alabama Class 6A Wrestling Coach of the Year 12 times. He was honored as the NFHS Alabama Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2005 as well as Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling Magazine the same year.      Gaydosh is known nationally as an ambassador for the sport of wrestling and has served as President of the National High School Wrestling Association for 15 years. He is also a member of that group’s Hall of Fame.   BEN HARRIS      Ben Harris is a graduate of Mobile’s Toulminville High School and Alabama State University.      As the head football coach at Mattie T. Blount High School in Prichard, Harris’ teams won four Class 5A state championships in 10 seasons. Blount was 96-30 during that time and Harris was named Alabama Coach of the Year twice. He was head coach of the Alabama team in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game in 1991 and an assistant in 1997.      After a two-year break, Harris returned to coach at Daleville High School for two seasons and six more seasons at Blount.     He has been honored as Citizen of the Year awards three times for civic and religious activities and was inducted into the Baldwin County High School Hall of Fame in 1999.      Harris was a strong disciplinarian and his teams were noted for being well prepared, winning with good manners and having great respect for the rules of the game.   JIM HUNTER, JR.      Jim Hunter, Jr., is a graduate of Billingsley High School and Tusculum College (Tenn.).      His career began at Southern Normal High School in Brewton as head football and basketball coach. His basketball teams had six straight winning seasons and a 93-61 record while his football teams went 24-25 with one playoff appearance. He was later head football coach at Montgomery’s St. Jude Educational Institute, going 11-9 with one state playoff trip.      He moved to Calhoun High School in Lowndes County in 1986 to start the school’s football program. He became head basketball coach in 1997 and enjoyed great success, claiming two state championships, 10 area titles and five seasons with 22-plus wins. Overall he has a 384-237 career basketball record and a 98-143 football mark.      Hunter was the Class 3A Alabama Basketball Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003 and coached in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Game in 2003.      He was president of the AHSADCA in 2012, having served as an officer for four years.   JULIE Sinclair      Julie Sinclair is a graduate of St. James High School, Auburn University and Auburn-Montgomery.      She has spent her entire career at Montgomery Academy, coaching volleyball for 34 years. Her teams have posted a career record of 1,115-346, placing her among only four coaches in Alabama high school sports with 1,000 victories.          During her outstanding career, Sinclair’s teams have won three state championships and been runner-up eight times, with 10 seasons of 40-plus wins and two others of 30-plus wins. She has received numerous Coach of the Year honors.      She has also coached girls’ varsity basketball, JV basketball, JV golf, softball and track during her tenure at MA, and serves as associate athletic director.      Sinclair is adored by her players, past and present, and has earned the respect of her fellow teachers and coaches at MA as well as opposing coaches throughout the state.    JIM TULEY      Jim Tuley is a graduate of Montgomery’s Robert E. Lee High School, Auburn University and Troy University.      He spent 22 years as an assistant football coach at Robert E. Lee, helping the Generals win almost 200 games and three state championships. He also coached cross country, girls’ tennis, track and boys’ golf. His Lee golf team won the 1974 state title.      Tuley moved to Montgomery’s Trinity Presbyterian School and served as athletic director for 17 years. During that time, Trinity teams won 18 state championships and were runners-up 10 times in nine different sports. He was an assistant football coach on the 2003 state title team and led the boys’ golf team to a state runner-up finish in 2001.       He has served the AHSAA as a member of the Central Board of Control, was District 3 President for 15 years and a member of the Golf Coaches’ Committee. Throughout his career, Tuley positively influenced the lives of students and colleagues alike.   RAYMOND WHITE      Raymond White is a graduate of Clio High School and Alabama State University.      He has spent his entire career as a teacher and coach in Barbour County, beginning as a history teacher at Clayton Elementary School and then becoming head basketball coach at Louisville High School. When Louisville and Clayton were consolidated to create Barbour County High School, he became head basketball coach and athletic director.      At Louisville his teams went to two state tournaments. At Barbour County his teams have won three state championships, including a perfect 34-0 squad in 2012 that claimed his 700th victory. He was named Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2012. He has also had three runner-up teams, another in the semi-finals and three seasons with 30-plus wins. He was an assistant in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Game.     His leadership has had a deep and lasting impact on thousands of Barbour County students