Chambers reaches millennium mark
Emily Howard, Madison Record
Coach Kent Chambers loves the game of softball, and it shows: not only in his passion for the game, but the respect he has earned from his fellow coaches and his players.
Fast forward 19 years to the Huntsville Hospital-Bob Jones High School Invitational Softball tournament April 7, where Chambers has just hit a landmark in his coaching career by coaching his 1,000th game. His team won that game, 13-0.
"Softball is all I've ever known. I feel like I was born on the field," Chambers said a week later while preparing to coach his team to a victory versus Hazel Green April 13.
Chambers has coached more than 400 players throughout his career, of whom 30 have gone on to play college ball. His lifetime win-loss record (which he can quote off the top of his head) is 582-418-3.
Chambers lists seeing his players succeed as one of his proudest career moments.
Sarah Nickey, one of the team's three seniors, is one of those who plans to play softball in college. A telling detail of Chambers' influence is that Nickey also has an academic scholarship.
"He helps us with grades and everything," she said of her coach, who also teaches Pre-calculus and Honors Algebra 2 at Bob Jones. "He won't accept less than the best."
Chambers, who has never married, treats his players as his own children, giving them practical advice on not only the game but also life in general.
Carol Bohatch, who coaches the team's catchers and base runners, says that Chambers teaches the girls more than just the game of softball.
"He always tries to do the right thing, no matter what," she said. "He'd rather lose a game than do something wrong...that's his strongest quality."
Keeping that moral high ground during every game can be hard sometimes. Chambers lists as his biggest career challenge the way coaches have to alter their style to keep up with the game as it changes.
"My biggest challenge is change...as the game changes, coaches have to change their philosophy," he said.
Chambers' philosophy is to "win or lose with class, and be as prepared for every game as possible," he said.
In his 19 years and 1,000-plus games, Chambers has definitely had an influence on the players he coaches.
"He's done so much for us," Nickey said.
Chambers is quick to point out the assistant coaches that have helped him along the way.
"I've been very blessed with assistant coaches...a head coach is only as good as his assistants," he said.
Dean Howard has been helping out for 13 years as a volunteer for the team. Chambers describes Howard as his right-hand man.
"Every decision I make, I make with him," he said.
Chambers also thanked assistant coaches Bohatch, Jackie McClain and Tegen Prewitt for their guidance.
