Sparkman High School’s athletics are no strangers to winning awards. To keep these awards coming we have new coaches coming to Sparkman. One of these new coaches is Coach Allison Walker. Walker is starting the year in an entirely new role. She came to Sparkman to coach the competition cheer team and teach sociology after teaching third grade for three years. Mrs. Walker has been cheering since she was only seven years old, so we think she is the perfect fit to help the competition cheer team bring home more awards. Mrs. Walker’s favorite quote is, “The words you speak become the house you stay in.”
Second, we have Coach Emily Flanigan. Flanigan has been teaching and coaching basketball for over 10 years. Coach Flanigan played at the collegiate level for Shelton State and afterward for West Alabama where she would soon become a grad assistant. Her years of coaching and experience of playing at the collegiate level will help Sparkman win more hardware.
Another person who will be coaching basketball is Obidiah Threadgill. Threadgill is entering year 21 as a high school teacher and basketball coach. Sparkman will be the fourth school where he has coached and taught. Coach Threadgill will be coaching the Varsity Boys Basketball team. His favorite quote is, “Without struggle, there can be no progress.”
Coming to coach the Sparkman volleyball team is Coach Ally Crooke. Crooke is starting her sixth year teaching and her ninth year coaching. Coach Crooke is a Huntsville native and earned her master’s at Alabama A&M. She was the former head coach for Austin High School for four seasons. Coach Crooke also directed the Rocket City Volleyball AAU Club and is the director of the Decatur branch where she coached their national team. Her favorite quote is, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” by Scoot Hamilton.
Last but certainly not least we have our new girl’s soccer Coach Randy Lilavois who is starting his tenth year teaching in Alabama. Before his time in Alabama, Lilavois was a high school coach and club coach in Southern California. Coach Lilavois’s favorite quote is “Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” This is his favorite because a former coach and colleague used it with the team. Lilavois found that it applied to many different situations.
Make sure to welcome and make the new coaches feel at home. We are looking forward to another great athletic season. Go, Senators!
