Prep notes: Cason takes over Bay volleyball program
Also, former Bay County AD ST. Amant back on the job as consultant
Sadie Cason couldn’t have been given a better first game as Bay’s new girls volleyball coach if she had made the schedule herself.
The Lady Tornadoes open the 2009 season against Mosley and Cason’s mentor, Steve Canfield.
Cason was hired this week to replace Kyle Peck who resigned earlier this summer. The 24-year-old from Springtown, Texas, helped coach Club Fusion, the offseason volleyball program ran by Canfield.
But she doesn’t have much time to prepare Bay. Teams can start practicing Aug. 10 and Bay’s opener is Sept. 8.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity,” Cason said. “I’ve been helping out with some teams in town and I just thought it would be a good chance to be able to do my own thing and be able to really teach the way I’d like to teach.”
Cason played one year of Division I volleyball at UNC-Wilmington following two years at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, a junior college. Whatever she lacks in experience — and by her account that’s a lot — Cason can make up in skill. Cason hasn’t met her team yet, but said one of her concerns is coaching a team with players older than 14 years old, the age of players with Club Fusion.
She lives in Panama City with her husband, Randy, a pilot in the Air Force.
“I want to win,” Cason said. “I want to play to win. I hate to lose.
“I don’t really know much about the Bay High program. The one thing I look forward to is bringing competitiveness to the program and hopefully a winning season.”
St. Amant is back: Tommy St. Amant just can’t stay away.
The former Bay District Schools county athletic director will return to the Balboa Avenue offices for this school year as a consultant to Dr. John Haley, the executive director of operational services. The district chose not to fill St. Amant’s previous post when he retired earlier this summer, instead making athletics one of nine divisions under Haley’s supervision.
St. Amant’s schedule isn’t set, but it’s expected to be busy as budget cuts and rule changes will go into effect the during the first few months of school.
Haley said St. Amant will be paid as a contract employee.
“I just can’t see him walking out the door will all that expertise and knowledge,” Haley said.
