DECATUR — When Calhoun Community College officials were looking for a head coach for the school’s first women’s flag football team, they didn’t have to look far.
In fact, he was in the building.
Bart Stephenson, Calhoun’s head softball and intramural sports coach, has been named head coach of the Warhawks women’s flag football team.
The first-year program will kick off in the fall and will hold tryouts March 9.
“We are extremely proud to announce the appointment of our very own Bart Stephenson as the head coach of Calhoun’s new women’s flag football team,” said Calhoun President Dr. Jimmy Hodges. “Coach Stephenson’s passion for athletics, extensive coaching experience across multiple sports, and dedication to student-athlete development make him the perfect leader to launch this groundbreaking program.
“We are confident he will build a strong, competitive team while promoting both academic and personal growth.”
In his sixth year coaching at Calhoun, Stephenson brings 17 years of coaching experience in football, baseball, basketball, and softball at the high school level. A graduate of Mount Hope High School, Stephenson was All-State in football and excelled in baseball with a .497 batting average and 14 home runs.
As a player at Northwest Community College, he earned MVP honors with batting averages of .398 as a freshman and .397 as a sophomore.
In 2008, Stephenson earned a bachelor’s of education in physical education from Athens State University.
He is enshrined in the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame with his father, Elwyn, and brother, Stan Stephenson. Recognized for his outstanding coaching abilities, he was named Coach of the Year by the Decatur Daily in 2014.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been selected,” said Stephenson. “The trust that my director and the college’s administration have placed in me to develop and lead this program is deeply humbling. My aim is not only to recruit a talented and competitive team, but also to create scholarship opportunities for young women striving to earn their college degrees.”
The flag football showcase/combine will offer athletes an opportunity to display their skills and compete for full-tuition scholarships to Calhoun.
The tryout details are:
- Date: March 9
- Location: Calhoun Community College
- Time: Check-in, 1:30 p.m.; Combine, 2-4 p.m.
- Eligibility: Open to 2025-27 high school graduates
- Cost: $50 per player
“Women’s flag football is not just about competition; it’s about teamwork, discipline, and providing life-changing opportunities,” said Kassie Mathis, Calhoun’s Vice President of Student Services. “Offering this program reflects our commitment to student success and community engagement.”
Calhoun will compete in the Alabama Community College Conference with Shelton State, Snead State, and others. There will be a 16-game regular season.
“Coach Stephenson brings an infectious excitement and passion for the sport that I am certain will be felt by his student-athletes,” said Athletics Director AJ Daugherty. “This is a wonderful opportunity for female athletes and, as always, Calhoun Athletics is committed to providing a first-class experience.”
For more information about the program, contact Stephenson at 256-306-2983 or [email protected].
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