By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Lucas Nunn)
When you hear the words “Hall of Fame Coach” before someone’s name, one immediately connects it with greatness. At the University of Alabama, a place with so much success in athletics over the years, certain names stick out as typical hall-of-fame coaches. Coaches Nick Saban and Sarah Patterson carved their names into Alabama history with success in their coaching careers.
On Dec. 12, Alabama men’s golf head coach Jay Seawell will be inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame. Seawell’s name may not immediately comet to mind when thinking about historic Alabama coaches, but he has enjoyed success over his career. He said he was not expecting such an honor.
“You don’t ever think about being a hall of fame person or coach,” Seawell said.
Seawell has spent half of his life coaching the game of golf. His 25-year career had two stops before he took the job of head coach at Alabama in 2002. His time at UA has been by far the most successful of his career, leading the Crimson Tide to back-to-back national championships in 2013 and 2014, as well as a second place finish in 2012.
Some coaches are in the business for the fame and the trophies, but many great coaches are driven by something bigger than just winning games or tournaments. Coach Seawell coaches to shape the lives of young student athletes.
“I got into coaching not so much for the trophy part, those are great accomplishments, but it really is to help young people capture and realize dreams and be the best they can be,” Seawell said.
For Seawell, coaching sports is something that he always wanted to do. He credits his parents with his desire to teach the game.
“It started in high school I always wanted to be a coach,” Seawell said. “My dad was a teaching professional and my mother was a teacher, so I think wanting to help people came from them.”
Seawell is one of six inductees to the 2016 GCAA Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony will take place on Dec. 12th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Seawell is naturally very excited for the induction.
“With so many great coaches in it [GCAA Hall of Fame] it’s an honor they believed I belonged in it,” Seawell said.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
