Union is officially looking for a new head baseball coach.
Head coach Dustin Hamrick announced that he was stepping down from Union to be an assistant at West Lauderdale where he will also teach math.
Hamrick said he was grateful for the opportunities that he received at Union.
“I would like to thank Union High School, the administration, the faculty and coaches, parents of players and community members who have supported us over the years,” Hamrick posted on his Facebook page. “A big thank you, too, to my wife and family for always being there. To may former players (baseball and softball) and students, I am grateful for the impact you have had on my life and am thankful for the opportunity to invest in yours. I knew this was right and that the Lord was opening a door for me cause it just fell in my lap to be at West Lauderdale.”
Hamrick was the head coach for seven years and spent four years as an assistant. The Yellowjackets went 14-10 this past season and finished second in the the Division 4-2A standings after splitting a pair of games with Lake and losing out in run differential. The Yellowjackets made the playoffs in all seven years with Hamrick at the helm.
“We had some tough schedules,” Hamrick said. "I think we did very well at times with the level of competition we faced year in year out. I am very proud of the facility upgrades in my seven years though. Looks totally different.”
More than wins and losses, Hamrick said he is proud of the relationships made with players over the years.
We won some and lost some,” Hamrick said “But I can say that we were always competitive and most importantly, we tried to make an eternal impact on the lives of young men to plant seeds of having a relationship with Jesus. That’s what I’m most proud of and always will be.”
Hamrick said he is especially proud of the upgrades that were made at the baseball complex.
“It went from looking like a city part to one of the better facilities you’ll play at,” Hamrick said. “We went from one open air cage/chain link fence backstop to big covered cages, centerfield wall, brick and net backstop, concrete extensions to the dugouts with rails, warning track, restroom improvements, turf in the cages, and broke ground on a locker room with a slab. I can honestly say we left it better than we found it. And I started the first-ever junior high program. Those are all things I will be proud of.“
Union Athletics Director Brad Breland said the search is under way to find Hamrick’s replacement and hopes to have a recommendation for the school board in the next few weeks.
