Whitlock Inducted into Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame
Three former players help enshrine Owls legendary head coach
by Mark Toma
1/30/2010 11:29:13 PM
ATLANTA, Ga. – Kennesaw State’s legendary head softball coach Scott Whitlock added another accolade to his long list of recognitions as he was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club’s Softball Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon at the Atlanta Hilton Hotel.
The Owls head coach was introduced by three of his former players, all of whom are currently head coaches at successful high school softball programs in the state of Georgia.
Tonya Carlisle of Cherokee High School, Tonya Sebring of Etowah High School and the President of the Georgia Dugout Club Lisa Chapman of Kennesaw Mountain High School all paid tribute to their former coach as they introduced Whitlock.
After an emotion-filled introduction by his former players that included many laughs and tears that were hard to fight back, Whitlock himself was visibly emotional as he thanked his former players with hugs, smiles and tears before he began his speech.
“I’m glad we had a moment or two to take pictures and hug before I spoke or else I’d have a tough time composing myself,” quipped the affable coach on the tender moment.
Whitlock delivered a heartfelt speech that thanked everyone from his wife Susan and his children Lacey and Blake to his family, friends, assistant coaches and players, but he spent a great deal of time in appreciation of the being inducted into the Hall of Fame and the importance of the responsibility of being a coach.
“I share this honor with every coach in this room,” said Whitlock at the end of his speech. “We [coaches] have an unusual existence. Coaching is not our job, it’s out lifestyle, it is who we are. Always take those five letters [coach] seriously and never take it for granted because to a student, it means a great deal, it means stability and consistency and for some it’s the only time they get that.”
Whitlock is one of college softball’s winningest coaches and his list of accomplishments is ever growing. He is still the youngest inductee and member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was a member of the United States National Softball Team coaching staff and is a two-time NCAA Division II national champion.
Joining Whitlock in the GADC Softball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 was Berrian High School’s longtime head coach Michelle Jones.