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APHS Teacher Billy Curtis Is Devils' New Softball Coach

Curtis Looks For Winning Formula

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Billy Curtis is the new head coach for the Avon Park High School varsity softball team. The APHS algebra teacher was an assistant the last two seasons.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: June 13, 2008

Updated: 06/13/2008 02:00 pm

AVON PARK — Just as the bells were sounding to end another school year at Avon Park High School last week, athletic director Mort Jackson handed algebra teacher Billy Curtis a winning formula to work on over the summer.

Curtis' tenure as AP varsity softball coach had officially begun.

"I was so excited when I was offered the position," Curtis said. "I've been around softball all my life, playing in adult and church leagues, and have coached for three years under Mike [Cobb].
"I'm happy to inherit such a great bunch of girls."

Curtis has been an assistant coach on Cobb's staff for two seasons and has coached the junior varsity squad, but this is his first head-coaching position at the varsity level.

Cobb believes Avon Park made a good choice in selecting Curtis, but knows that the newcomer still has room to learn and grow into the position.

"Billy will do OK," Cobb said. "He's enthusiastic and is willing to learn. That is going to be his biggest asset because there is still lots for him to learn."

The learning curve is something that Curtis is aware of and thanks Cobb for all he's learned in his short time on the bench next to the former coach.

"Mike has already taught me so much," Curtis said. "He really taught me how to manage a game and not just win a slugfest. Mike was a very patient coach and gets his runs when he can.

"The good thing is I'm inheriting a team that's in the black financially and also in the talent department. We've got some tremendous talent on this team that nobody knows but us."

Replacing outgoing seniors Heather Barnes, Julie Lamb, Ashton Shirey and Missy Lander is a task that will be Curtis' first challenge.

"You don't replace a Heather Barnes or Julie Lamb or any of those girls," Curtis said. "They were amazing players. What you try to do is accentuate the skills that the new girls moving into those positions have."

Barnes feels that Curtis will have success at Avon Park.

"[Billy] gets along with the girls and was always a positive influence in the dugout," Barnes said. "He and the girls will just have to get used to each other with his new position.

"I don't see Avon Park falling off the softball map anytime soon."

A more energetic dugout is definitely on the menu for Curtis, who could often be seen pumping the girls up and showing his enthusiasm last season.

"I know I'm more energetic than Mike was," Curtis said. "Mike had a style all his own, and I'm just going to try to be me. I'm a lot more animated and my style of coaching is also very aggressive.

"Taking a cue from my time in the military, you adjust things slowly. I'm not making any wholesale changes because this is already such a positive program. I just want to continue the winning tradition that Mike and Hoppy [Rewis] started here at Avon Park."

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