SYLACAUGA, Ala. – B.B. Comer High School Head Baseball Coach Mark Vincent has been named ‘Coach of the Year’ for Talladega County.
The award is voted on by other coaches in the county.
Vincent, a Sylacauga native and graduate of Sylacauga High School in 1982, has been the head baseball coach at B.B. Comer for the past four seasons.
Before Vincent took over the program, the Tigers baseball team made the playoffs once in 15 seasons. The team has not missed the postseason under Vincent.
The Tigers baseball team finished with the 2018 regular season with a .500 record before losing to American Christian Academy, a powerhouse private school from Tuscaloosa.
Vincent’s 2018 Tigers featured seven seniors, five of which played for Vincent since their freshman year.
“A lot of the kids started in the program when I started here, so we grew up here together in the program,” Vincent said. “It took these kids a while to buy into what we are doing, but we will miss their leadership.”
Vincent said he is thrilled his team has made the playoffs since he began his tenure at B.B. Comer, but believes it is time to take the next step in seasons to come.
“I told the kids I am glad to go [to the playoffs], but now it’s time to move past the first round and make some noise,” he explained. “The kids are working hard and I feel like each year we’re taking steps in the right direction.”
Vincent told SylacaugaNews.com he is pleased with the trajectory of his program, using the fact the Tigers beat Childersburg, Shelby County, and Randolph County for the first time under his watch in 2018 as an example of growth.