Although most of us are still sweltering under the mid-summer sun, we need to keep in mind that autumn is just around the corner and the fall sports program at Ardmore High School will begin even sooner.

Fall sports at AHS will see two new faces as head coaches this season. Tracy Malone will take over the reins of the Tiger Varsity Football Program and has worked hard throughout the spring and summer to get the Tigers ready for the season opener against Elkmont, slated for Friday, September 1.

Rebecca Martin will begin her tenure as the new Head Volleyball Coach at AHS and has also spent a great amount of time this summer getting both the program and the team in shape for the new season.

Both Malone and Martin expressed positive feelings about coming to Ardmore High School and both also agreed that Ardmore was a fine place to live and work.

“I’m really excited about coming to Ardmore,” commented Malone. “There are great facilities at the school and the community is tight knit and very supportive. The kids are also a tight knit group, so what I have to do is weave myself into that. I hope to build on what Coach Adams and Coach Gibson did at Ardmore and look forward to getting on the field.”

Malone is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education and Health. For the past two years, he has served as Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Grayson High School in Grayson, Georgia. Last season, Malone was named Region 8 AAAAA Assistant Coach of the Year and his offense scored 232 points in 10 games. While racking up those impressive numbers, Malone’s offense accumulated over 2,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards passing.

Prior to his stint at Grayson, Malone served as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Mundy’s Mill High School in Jonesboro, Georgia. Malone’s team also put up impressive offensive numbers during the coach’s tenure.

Malone began his coaching career at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he worked with tackles, tight ends, linebackers and punters. During his four years at Riverdale, the team showed steady improvement and won the 2001 5A state championship. Riverdale was state runner up in 2000 and 2002.

Malone states that he plans on running a multi-pronged offensive scheme that features many variations. As for defense, he says he generally favors a seven-man front. Malone also stressed the importance of toughness on special teams.

“The summer has gone very well so far,” said Malone. “The kids have worked hard and seem to understand that what happened last year is not the way it is supposed to be. They know they can do much better than last season.”

Rebecca Martin will take over the reins of the Varsity Volleyball Team at Ardmore High School in the 2006 season. Martin will succeed former Head Coach Shannon Phillips, who made a decision in the spring to step down from the position.

Martin, a 1989 graduate of Ardmore High School, was an outstanding volleyball player for the Lady Tigers and also excelled on the hardwood at the collegiate level. She has spent the past 13 years teaching in the Madison County school system.

A long-time resident of Ardmore, Martin states that she is looking forward to coming home to coach.

“I am proud to be back in Ardmore,” said Martin. “This is my home and my children all attend Ardmore schools. I am excited to be a part of the program at AHS and look forward to the upcoming season.”

Martin received her Bachelors Degree in Education from Athens State University and her Masters Degree from Alabama A&M University.

“Rebecca was an exciting player when she played in high school and a great player in college as well,” said AHS Principal Mike Owens. “We are looking forward to what Rebecca has to bring to the volleyball program at Ardmore High School. She is energetic and enthusiastic and just what the girls need. Coach Phillips did a great job and laid a strong foundation in the program and we appreciate all that she has done. She made the decision to step down and now Coach Martin will continue to move the program in a positive direction.”

According to Mr. Owens, the team plans to schedule several play dates and clinics during the summer months.