By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

VINCENT — There will be a new name in charge of the Vincent Yellow Jackets for the 2015 season, as Cory Williams will take over for long time VHS coach Dwight Spradley.

Spradley retired at the end of the 2014 season, turning the reins over to Williams, who has served as the team’s assistant coach for the last three seasons.

“It means a lot,” Williams said of being named head coach.” My wife’s a graduate of Vincent. Something about Vincent draws me to it.”

Williams said that while he is new to being a head coach, serving as an assistant to Spradley helped make the transition easier. Over the course of the 2014 season, Williams began to make more important decisions, such as calling pitches and controlling baserunning.

“Coach Spradley kind of let me know I was going to be (the next coach),” he said. “This last year, he kind of turned the reins over to me.”

Williams, who played collegiately at Snead State in Boaz and was a part of the 2002 state champion Childersburg High team, said he and Spradley had been coaching using part of the system already in place and part of Williams system of coaching.

“Coming in, I was ready to take on the world,” he said. “Knowing the game and coaching the game is completely different. I’ve had three years (to learn). I owe that to Coach Spradley. I can call him anytime. It’s been a huge asset.”

One of the main goals for the team heading forward is to maintain a high level of play, Williams said. The Yellow Jackets have captured three consecutive AHSAA Class 2A, Area 10 titles.

“We’ll continue to play good defense and scratch and claw for runs,” he said. “My boys have a lot of grit, (and they) rise to the challenge daily. The ultimate goal is creating better citizens and teaching life lessons through the game.”