Vosel steps down as Montgomery Academy baseball coach

MA coach Stephen Vosel spent seven years as the head baseball coach with the Eagles but will enter private business. (File Photo)

By TIM GAYLE

Montgomery Academy baseball coach Stephen Vosel is turning in his cleats for an office job.

Vosel has spent the last 10 years in coaching, including the last seven as the Eagles’ head baseball coach, but has decided to give up coaching and enter private business.

“I was offered a really good job outside of teaching and coaching from a friend of mine from high school who’s built a business and has an office here in Montgomery and he’s asked me to head that up,” Vosel said. “I was not looking at all. I was happy where I was and am very thankful for MA and my time there.

“I said ‘no,’ but then I started thinking about it and we started talking details. Ultimately, I’ve got to do what’s best for my family. There was no question the Lord was making it known that this is what I needed to do.”

Vosel’s first year as a head coach brought the Eagles an area championship and they advanced to the state playoffs, beating Dadeville in the first round before losing to Providence Christian. After a break for Covid, the Eagles reached the playoffs again, this time as the area runner-up, losing in the first round. The last four years, the Eagles have failed to reach the playoffs.

He fills an integral role with the school, serving as an assistant to the athletic director for operations as well as serving as the head coach for the middle school football team.

Vosel said working with Motivated Movers would allow him to spend more time with his family, but he admitted it was difficult walking away from his players.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “The thing I’m going to miss the most are the kids and those relationships. That’s the whole reason I’ve been doing it. Not being out there with them every day and seeing them around school is going to be the toughest thing.

“That and not working alongside (fellow coaches) David Bethea, Jeremy Arant, Ethan McBride, Brad Parker, those guys. It’s going to be tough, too.”

He didn’t rule out a return to coaching one day, but said he would enjoy the time he can now spend with his own children.

“Any time you make a career move, it can be scary,” Vosel said. “But He’s really given me a lot of peace with this decision. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to being a dad. We’re getting close to that age where they’re starting to play youth sports and ultimately I don’t want to miss those games because I have games or I have practice.”

Montgomery Academy athletic director Wright Ward said a search was under way to find a head baseball coach for the program.