A year that started with disappointment has turned out to be a special one for Newton County softball coach Justin Chaney.
After losing to South Pontotoc in the slow-pitch finals, Newton County followed that up by win the Class 4A fast-pitch state championship, the 10th fast-pitch title for Chaney and his 17th title overall including slow-pitch.
Chaney was later named The Meridian Star’s Premier Prep’s Softball Coach of the Year. Then last week, Chaney capped off his run by being named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Softball Coach of the Year at a banquet in Bismark, North Dakota.
Chaney, who just completed his 15th year as head softball coach at Newton County, said he knew he’d been nominated for the award in August and found out in December that he was one of eight finalists for the award. But he was certainly surprised when he heard his named called last week.
“I didn’t have a clue that I was going to win,” Chaney said. “It means a lot to me. Now that I have had time to think about it, I think the biggest thing to me is this is an award for all of those people back in Newton County. All of those players, all of those assistant coaches, all of those coaches who mentored me, all of the administration that I have worked for. It’s an accumulation of all of those people that have been involved with this program.”
Chaney said he was overwhelmed by the congratulations he received after winning the award.
“Within 30 minutes of getting the award, I had gotten a text from my superintendent and my principal, and that means lot to me,” Chaney said. “It’s summertime, and they knew about it and took the time to text me about it. And the second neat thing, we were on the plane, and when we got off, I couldn’t tell you how many players who play for me and have played for me sent me texts and said congrats. That meant more to me than any award. It’s all about building relationships. It’s been a good week.”
Chaney said there are several people he’s thankful for, but a few come to his mind.
“The one person I think about is Mr. (Rodney) Tadlock,” Chaney said. “Back in 2004 when I was a young buck, he took a chance and hired me. I always think the world of him for giving me that chance. And another person who had a big part, being a mentor is coach Jeff Breland. I was with football for three years and he helped me a lot as far as being a coach. He told me one day that I would be the one training these young bucks. And 19 years later, here I am.”
Chaney took over for Mack Fanning, who started the softball programs at Newton County.
“That’s the thing, it was easy for me because Mack had laid the foundation with the stadium, the team and the program,” Chaney said. “I just didn’t want to screw it up after playing for him. He’s a big part of it and showed me the ropes early on.”
But Chaney said none of it would be possible with one person in particular.
“It was really neat because the one person that I couldn’t do this without was with me and that is my wife (Tabitha Chaney),” Chaney said. “She went with me and has been there every step of the way. I don’t think people understand what coach’s wives go through. She helps take care of these kids and is a taxi for them a lot of times. I have great support from my family. And then there is my mother and father, and my grandmother rarely ever misses a game. It’s easy when you come from a sports family.”
