Longtime Bessemer City coach steps down

Bessemer City has changed softball coaches during the season and will soon start looking for a new boys basketball coach.

Calvin Albright has stepped down from both posts, citing personal reasons. He was in his 16th year as a coach at the school. Albright coached only the first softball game. He remains at the school as a teacher.

School athletic director Brian Thornburg announced the moves Friday but would not elaborate.

Albright’s daughter and former softball assistant coach Kelly Duncan was promoted to interim head softball coach. Duncan has spent the past four years as the head junior varsity softball coach and also serves as the head junior varsity volleyball coach.

The remainder of the revised softball coaching staff includes Natalie Willis as varsity assistant and Lindsey Shumaker as head junior varsity coach.

The school has not advertised or interviewed for the basketball opening, Thornburg said. No timetable has been announced for filling the vacancy.

Albright’s decision became effective March 2, a day after coaching the softball team to a season-opening victory over Hunter Huss. Albright finished his softball head coaching career with a 130-148 record after 15 seasons.

“I just wish the girls and the new coach lots of luck and I hope they do well,” Albright said.

In four years as head boys basketball coach, Albright compiled a 56-45 record and was selected conference coach of the year in 2008. The Yellow Jackets finished 13-9 this past season after losing in the first round of the state playoffs to Kernersville Bishop McGuinness. Bessemer City went 8-5 in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference and tied for fourth.

The season was marred by two in-game incidents that led to player suspensions. In December, four players were suspended for trying to enter the stands and confront a heckling fan at the David Wright Holiday Classic in Cherryville. In February, the school banned two players, five Bessemer City students and two non-students after a fight erupted in the stands during a home game against Lincolnton.

Before coaching boys basketball, Albright served as Bessemer City’s head girls basketball coach for 12 years, amassing a 114-166 record. He led the Yellow Jackets to a conference title in 2001, the school’s second such championship.

Albright’s 16 years of basketball coaching gave him an overall combined record of 170-211, ranking him third in basketball coaching wins at Bessemer City behind Jackson “Ace” Parker (223) and Marty Hatchell (186).

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.