Athens High School names Head Softball Coach, Baseball Coach, and Track & Field Coach

ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT) — Athens High School has announced the naming of three coaches to lead their sports programs for the upcoming seasons.

The following individuals have been named to the following positions:

• Coach Chuck Smith, Head Coach of Athens High School Softball
• Coach Mike Murphree, Interim Head Coach of Athens High School Baseball
• Coach Patrick Chambless, Head Coach of Athens High School Track and Field

All three coaches bring a wealth of experience to their new positions.

Coach Chuck Smith has over fifteen years of coaching experience and has been with the
Athens High School Baseball program since 2015. Smith has earned 364 career wins with 191
at AHS. Under his leadership, twenty-seven Golden Eagles have continued their athletic and
academic journey at the next level. According to Coach Smith,” I am extremely excited and
grateful for this opportunity. I think we can continue to build upon the success our softball
program already has in place. There is a great core group coming back that will be the leaders
of this program. I can’t wait to get started on the 2025 season!!”.

Coach Mike Murphree has spent 20 years coaching baseball at the collegiate level, including
Jacksonville State University (2011-2023), Gulf State Community College (2009-2011) Troy
University (2003-2006, 2007-2009) and Northwest Shoals Community College (2006-2007). He
joined the Athens High School football and baseball coaching staff in 2023. According to
Murphree, “I am blessed beyond measure for my family and I to be a part of this community. I
am truly thankful to God and humbled by this opportunity to serve as the Head Baseball Coach
at Athens High School. Coach Chuck Smith has built the Athens High School Baseball Program
into an extremely competitive program statewide. We will do our best to build on what he has
built here”.

Coach Patrick Chambless has over 20 years of coaching experience and most recently served
as Athletic Director at Limestone County Schools. Chambless has coached football, girls
basketball, softball, wrestling, and soccer and is excited for the opportunity to coach Athens
High School Track and Field. “My family and I are incredibly excited to join the Golden Eagle family. I very much look forward to working with the talented athletes with Athens Track & Field,
and I can’t wait to get started,” said Chambless.

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