Madison County’s recent decision to fire John Jenkins as head coach of the varsity softball team has upset many former players and parents who believe it was a big mistake.
Former players, including Meaghan Dean, Aliyah Aylor, Harmonee Betz, and Mackenzie Aylor, along with their parents, Nicole Tompkins, shared their support for Jenkins on Facebook.
They described him as a dedicated, kind, and hardworking coach who gave everything to the team.
A Coach Who Always Went the Extra Mile
Meaghan Dean played for Jenkins from the rec league through her varsity years. She wrote a long Facebook post about how much he cared.
Jenkins set up extra practices to help players get better. In the winter, he arranged indoor hitting and fielding sessions at a friend’s facility.
In the summer, he held batting practice and infield drills to keep the team sharp. He even led workouts at Gold’s Gym early in the morning or after school.
If no trainer was there, Jenkins made the workouts himself.
“He gave his own time and used his own resources to make us better players.”
Via Facebook
Jenkins didn’t stop helping after players graduated. He offered gym and weight room access to former players who wanted to keep training.
Dean said only a few girls showed up, which showed a lack of effort from some players, not Jenkins.
Aliyah Aylor agreed, saying Jenkins taught her more than just softball. She wrote,
“He instilled a set of values in me that will benefit me far outside of the ball field,
Via Facebook
Harmonee Betz called Jenkins the best coach she ever had. She said he made every practice count, even in bad weather.
She added,
““He would work with us until we got it right, no matter how late we were on the field,”
Via Facebook
The Team’s Struggles Weren’t Jenkins’ Fault
Dean said the team’s recent problems weren’t because of Jenkins. Many players didn’t put in enough effort.
She wrote,
“You can’t pick up a softball right before the season and expect to play well.”
Via Facebook
She believes the team struggled because some players didn’t train hard, not because Jenkins was a bad coach.
The junior varsity (JV) program also had issues. Dean said JV practices weren’t focused enough.
Sometimes players wasted time on things like making TikToks instead of practicing.
Jenkins offered to help the JV team with drills, but the coaches turned him away. Dean thinks this was a missed opportunity to strengthen the team.
Mackenzie Aylor said Jenkins was always ready to lend a hand. She said-:
Via Facebook
“If you called, he was at that field in 30 minutes; night or day, If you don’t have girls willing to work on themselves, you don’t have a winning team, “
Dean played for Jenkins during her junior and senior years. She said those were some of her best memories of playing softball.
The team beat strong teams like Strasburg, East Rock, and Clarke County. They also played close games against Orange County, Central, and Page.
Dean admitted there were tough times, but she wouldn’t trade those years for anything.
She compared Jenkins to past coaches. Those coaches had talented travel-ball players, which contributed to their teams’ success.
When those players graduated, the coaches left. Jenkins stayed and worked hard to build the team, even though it lacked the same level of talent.
Dean also pointed out issues with the assistant coaches. She said they didn’t know how to run good drills.
Jenkins had to step in to ensure players received quality practice time. Some players quit or transferred because of problems with the assistants, not Jenkins.
Dean was upset to hear that the assistant coaches had spoken negatively about her after she graduated. She said she was always respectful and hardworking, so those comments felt unfair.
Nicole Tompkins wrote-:
“It’s truly a loss for the county, the student athletes, and the softball program.”
Via Facebok
The process that led to Jenkins’ firing also had problems. Dean said the team used anonymous surveys to evaluate him, but some players didn’t take them seriously.
She also mentioned that the athletic director never attended practices. If they had, they would have seen how hard Jenkins worked. d
Nicole Tompkins, a parent, agreed. She said both her daughters played for Jenkins and called him a wonderful coach. “Many schools can only wish to have a coach like John,” she wrote.
The Community’s Support for Jenskns Shows He Was More Than Just a Coach
He was a mentor who cared about his players on and off the field. Harmonee Betz said, “Madison County will not find someone who will put their all into a sport like Coach John.”
Tompkins urged the school to listen to its players. She said Jenkins coached with kindness and love for the game, not just to win.
Firing Jenkins won’t fix the program’s problems. Dean said the next coach will face the same challenges unless players, coaches, and the administration work together.
The real issues are that players are not training enough, the JV program is weak, and assistants lack certain skills. The school also needs better oversight from the athletic director.
Madison County softball lost a great coach when it fired John Jenkins. His dedication and heart left a lasting impact on his players.
The program now faces the challenge of moving forward without him.
The community hopes the school will learn from this and build a stronger team with more support for everyone involved.
