Donoho picks hoops coach, Wellborn looking
- Updated: May 15, 2015
(UPDATED) Falcons introduce Mastin to players, parents; Panthers’ Winn sidelined by credentials process
Beau Winn (C) gives his Wellborn basketball team instructions during a time out in a game at Ohatchee this past basketball season.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Donoho has identified its new boys basketball coach.
Alex Mastin, the brother of Falcons girls coach Melissa Smyly, was introduced to the parents and players Tuesday.
The school has not made an official announcement, as Mastin is still in the process of signing his contract.
“I am excited about the opportunity to coach basketball a prestigious school like Donoho,” Mastin told East Alabama Sports Today Friday.
Mastin played high school basketball at Albertville and was a student assistant at Auburn. He will be the Falcons’ boys basketball coach and physical education teacher. This is his his first high school coaching job.
“I’d always wanted to coach college basketball since I was a kid,” he said.
He succeeds Shannon Felder, who left the school earlier this spring after holding the titles of basketball coach, head football coach and athletics director.
WELLBORN POST OPEN: Wellborn is looking for a new boys basketball coach now that Beau Winn has transferred to Ohatchee.
Winn caught observers by surprise Thursday when he was spotted in the stands at Wellborn’s spring football game in the Calhoun County Spring Jam wearing a red T-shirt of event host Ohatchee.
Winn was serving as a para-pro while coaching the Panthers and will be returning to school to renew his credentials, although he had verbal assurances from state officials his route through the certification process was appropriate after Wellborn gained status as a Title I school.
He was with the Panthers’ program three years, the last two as head coach. His team went 6-15 last season, but lost seven games by three points or less.
He would eventually like to return to coaching.
“That’s where my heart is and that’s what I want to get back to,” he said. “Having to step away was tough.”
Ohatchee principal Bobby Tittle said he hasn’t talked with Winn about any coaching responsibilities with the Indians. Bryant Ginn is one of two coaches in the county who oversees their school’s boys and girls teams and he says he enjoys the double duty.
Wellborn principal Chris Hayes said a decision on Winn’s successor with the Panthers would be made together with athletics director Jeff Smith, but they sounded close to a decision.
“I’ll let you know in a few days,” Smith said.
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