MONTGOMERY-When you have strong athletic programs, those programs are usually led by strong coaches who are also strong teachers of their chosen sport. Strong teachers are not only successful on the court or field of play, they are also successful in teaching their players how to become teachers and coaches once their playing days are over. No where is that a better example than at Auburn University at Montgomery.
Last spring, eight former AUM baseball players that played under legendary coach Q.V. Lowe, led high school teams to the Alabama High School State Baseball Tournament. Now, a total of eight former AUM basketball players are coaching programs that are ready to enter the Alabama High School Regional or AISA State Tournaments.
There are a total of five former Lady Senators that played or coached under former AUM head coach, Steve Crotz, coaching teams into regional action. Crotz completed his career as the all-time leader in wins for the AUM women's basketball program and led AUM to 10 national tournaments.
Katie Barton (1996-2000) is the head coach at St. James. She was a four-year starter for the Lady Senators and is a recent inductee into the AUM Hall of Fame. She led St. James to a 21-11 record and will face Andalusia High School at Alabama State University.
LaKenya Knight (1994-96) is the career leader in assists at AUM. She led Jeff Davis High School to an 18-10 record and will face Davidson at Alabama State in the regional tournament.
Tonya Hunter is a former assistant coach under Crotz for the Lady Senators. She coached at AUM four seasons and is now the head coach at Shades Valley High School who finished the season with a 25-7 record. Their opening round Northeast Regional opponent is Hoover High School and will be played at Jacksonville State University.
Tiffany Frederick (2002-04) is still ranked among the AUM career leaders in three-point field goals made. She is now the head coach at Fairfield High School who finished the season 18-13. Their opponent is J.O. Johnson at the Northwest Regional Tournament being played at Wallace State-Hanceville Community College.
Nikki Hayes (2002-03) played her senior season at AUM and was one of the senior leaders that helped lead the Lady Senators to its 13th consecutive NAIA National Tournament. She is an assistant coach at Sidney Lanier who is carrying a 22-4 record into regional action at Alabama State.
Head men's coach Larry Chapman has won over 600 games as a head coach and along the way several of his former players have taken the lessons they learned during their playing days and have become leaders of high school programs that are achieving similar success on the hard court.
Chauncey Shines (1989-91) spent two years at AUM. He is now the head coach at Brewbaker Tech where he is leading the team into regional play at Troy University where it will face Andalusia High School at Alabama State University.. Brewbaker finished the season with a 25-4 record.
Cedric Drake (2001-03) was a two-year starter for the Senators and was part of two teams that won a total of 41 games. He is now the head coach at Taylor Road Academy and led them to a 21-3 record. Taylor Road will face Glenwood High School in the AISA State Tournament which is being played at Huntingdon College.
Marcus Townsend (1989-91) spent two years at AUM and is now an assistant coach at LAMP High School which finished the season with a 24-5 record. LAMP will face Greene County in the Central Region Class 3A tournament at Alabama State University.
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