Talley Haines returns as Mobile Christian’s baseball coach

 

 

 

 

 

By JIMMY WIGFIELD

Talley Haines, who led Mobile Christian to five state baseball championships between 2015 and 2022, is returning as the Leopards’ coach, head of school Clint Mitchell announced Monday.

Jason Smith — who followed Haines as Mobile Christian’s coach and took the Leopards to this year’s Class 5A state championship series — will remain as the school’s director of operations and once again become Haines’ chief assistant coach. The changes will take effect on June 1, Mitchell said.

Mobile Christian finished 24-12 and was the Class 5A state runner-up this season under Smith.

“Obviously I would have loved to have won it but I was part of five state championships as an assistant and it’s OK if I’m an assistant for the next five state championships,” Smith said.

Smith, 46, said the administration knew before the season began of his desire to serve as the head coach short term so he would have time to watch his son Seth play at Southern Miss.

“I told them early on we needed to figure out some way to find somebody to be the head coach so I’d have the freedom to watch Seth play,” Smith said. “When the opportunity came about for (Haines) to return, it got me excited. When it worked out, it was really exciting.”

Mitchell said the administration had been working to get Haines to come back.

“It’s a great thing,” Mitchell said. “We wanted Talley to work here as long as he wanted to. His priorities are right. We’re glad a guy we know and love is able to come back. It’s ideal for us.”

Haines resigned as the school’s head baseball coach and athletic director in November 2022 after leading the Leopards to state championships in Class 2A (2015 and 2016), 3A (2018) and 4A (2021 and 2022).

Haines, 47, left coaching to sell insurance and said he realized it was a mistake.

“I got into the private sector and realized my love is coaching kids,” he said. “I’m excited about it. Mobile Christian has been real good to me. My wife teaches there and my kids go to school there.”

Mitchell announced the changes in an email to the families of the players released on Monday.

“Coach Haines was the primary architect of the rise of Mobile Christian baseball,” Mitchell said in the email. “What appeals to me most is his primary desire to mold young men into great fathers, husbands and Christians. Coach Haines has been a major part of what makes MCS great in the past and we are overjoyed to have him return home.”

Smith served as an assistant coach under Haines from 2011 to 2022 before becoming the Leopards’ head coach and their closeness has maintained the program’s success.

“He knew what to do and did a great job,” Haines said of Smith. “The success comes from having stability and doing things right. We don’t expect to do much differently.”

In the email, Mitchell said Mobile Christian was fortunate Smith was there to take over for Haines two years ago.

“As I’m sure most all of you would agree, we have been incredibly blessed by having Jason Smith and his family at Mobile Christian School,” Mitchell said. “His unique combination of baseball knowledge, high work ethic and Christian leadership far exceeds most all of the individuals I have met.”

Mitchell said he admired Smith’s commitment to his family and the fact he chose being a father over pursuing a career in the majors.

The Leopards finished the 2024 regular season 16-10 and gave no hint of the eight straight playoff victories to come. St. Paul’s defeated Mobile Christian in a sweep in late April to win the area championship, due in part to Haines serving part-time as the Saints’ pitching coach.

“I thought we had a chance to go to the finals as well but when you get into the playoffs, the best team doesn’t always win, it’s the team that’s playing the best,” Haines said.

Smith said the Leopards were in a funk where they weren’t fundamentally sound and were not executing well.

“We hit a skid,” he said. “To turn it on during the playoffs was exciting to be a part of and watch. I’m proud of the boys. As they were enjoying that success, they saw how much the practice, preparation and work was rewarding. It was late in the season and people get tired but they were loving it.

“One of the things I told them during the run that a lot of things that made Mobile Christian successful in the past was getting five extra weeks of practice and this was going to help us down the road.”

The Leopards return star center fielder Damien Gatson, plus catcher Noah Blackburn, third baseman Bryce Rivers and second baseman P.J. Brown.