Volleyball coach Falcione leaving Montgomery Academy after one year

Carly Falcione has decided to step down for personal reasons after leading the MA volleyball team for one season. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

A year after replacing Hall of Fame coach Julie Gordon, Montgomery Academy officials faced the unenviable task of replacing Carly Falcione.

Falcione, who took over for Gordon in 2025, announced to school officials she would not continue her role as the school’s volleyball coach, stepping away after an increase in school duties influenced her decision to give up teaching duties at the school.

“I still think very highly of Montgomery Academy and I really did have an enjoyable year with the team and with my job in general,” Falcione said. “I don’t have a job lined up right now or anything planned. I’m not sure what the next season looks like. They had to make some changes at the school and it was my choice (to leave). I didn’t feel comfortable with where things were headed next year.”

School officials moved quickly to conduct a search and decided to promote varsity assistant Jada Coleman to the position.

“(Falcione) let us know she was not going to return next year,” Montgomery Academy athletic director Wright Ward said. “It was definitely disappointing because she did a fantastic job. I thought stepping into that role after Julie, that’s what made it difficult to start with but she did a fantastic job.

“We definitely hated to hear it, but we respect her wishes and we started attacking a volleyball search.”

Falcione was given the difficult task of replacing Gordon, the Hall of Fame coach with 1,640 wins, eight state championships and 18 trips to the finals in 46 years of coaching. Falcione’s inaugural team in 2025 won the Class 6A Area 4 championship, posted a 40-7 record and reached the second round of the South sub-regionals before losing to Saraland.

“I hate it for the girls,” Falcione said, “and I hate being a one-and-done. I have such a peace with my decision but I do hate that it had such a quick turnaround after someone who was there for 46 years.”

Falcione had never coached at the high school level before accepting the job at Montgomery Academy. A future high school job in the River Region is not out of the question, however.

“I’m never going to say never to anything,” she said. “I am not actively searching for anything, but I’m not going to close doors that may be open in my direction.”

Like Falcione, Coleman has no previous head coaching experience at the high school level but she was endorsed by the former coach.

“I’m super excited that Jada will be taking over,” Falcione said. “She’s more than qualified. I have nothing but respect for the program and the girls and everyone there.”

Ward said it wasn’t a good time to look for a volleyball coach, but after considering their options, school officials felt like Coleman was the perfect candidate.

“It was a challenge,” Ward said. “We’ve hired Jada Coleman, who has been in the program for the last year. She was our middle school coach and a varsity assistant. The more we sat back and thought about it, we needed somebody who knew the game, loved the game, was hungry to learn even more about the game than she already knows, but also understands what it takes to win at a high level. And Jada is that.”

In a press release issued by the school, Coleman thanked school officials for the vote of confidence.

“I want to thank Coach Ward, head of school John McWilliams and the entire MA administration and staff for the opportunity to lead this outstanding program,” she said. “I am truly honored to step into this role and become part of the rich tradition of Montgomery Academy volleyball. I look forward to continuing to build meaningful relationships with our student-athletes while challenging and inspiring every level of the program — from middle school through varsity — to reach new heights.”