Coach Stephen Hammock
Coach Hammock is entering his fifth softball season with Gulf Shores High School, third as the Head Softball Coach, and sixth year at Gulf Shores High School. Before becoming the Head Coach, Coach Hammock spent two seasons as the Head Junior Varsity Softball Coach and Lead Varsity Assistant working with outfielders, infielders, and catchers in addition to providing hitting and base running instruction.
Though the 2020 season was shortened due to Covid-19, the Lady Dolphins were on pace to exceed offensive totals from the 2019 season, including homeruns, runs batted in, runs scored, and extra base hits. The Lady Dolphins were playing their best ball at the point of interruption due to the pandemic, winning 6 of their last 9 games.
The 2019 season saw the Lady Dolphins made a return to the South Regional of the AHSAA playoffs, after a two-year absence, and came two games short of advancing to the State Tournament.
Prior to coming to Gulf Shores, Coach Hammock worked for three years at Upson-Lee High School serving as the Head Varsity Softball Coach, and Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach. Under his leadership, the Lady Knights won 12 games in 2014, the most wins in a season in 10 years. Prior to Hammock’s arrival, the Varsity baseball team won two games in 2012 and three games in 2011. Serving as the primary outfield instructor in 2013, the Knights baseball team won 10 games, 8 more than the previous year, and won 14 games in 2014 with Hammock serving as the lead infield instructor. The Knights’ success continued in 2015 with 17 wins and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen of the state playoffs. While at Upson-Lee, Coach Hammock instructed five college signees (Chelsea Wainwright- Gordon State College, Montana Schug- Denison College, Kyle Kelly- Point University, Austin Matson- Valdosta State, Kalen Puckett- Georgia State).
Prior to Upson-Lee, Coach Hammock served as an Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach and primary defensive instructor for the 2011 season, at Mundy’s Mill High School. The Tigers posted a 22-9 season record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the State Playoffs, losing to the defending two-time state champion, Marist High School. At Mundy’s Mill, Coach Hammock coached four college signees (Corey Harmon- Gordon State College, Jerek Wright- Paine College, Raheem Jackson- Savannah State, Rodney Smith- University of Minnesota) and one draft pick (Rashad Crawford- 11th Round Selection- Chicago Cubs).
In addition to his softball duties, Coach Hammock is a special education teacher, and also serves as an Assistant Athletic Director at the school.
Coach Hammock holds an Educational Specialist degree from Columbus State University in Educational Leadership, a Master’s degree in Sport Management from Georgia Southern University, and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from Columbus State University. Coach Hammock is currently pursuing an Educational Doctorate in Curriculum and Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education. Coach Hammock is married to Ava Andrews of Thomaston, Georgia, and the couple have three children, Elana Grace, Olivia Ryan, and Isaac James.
Dolphins Moving On Mackenzie Brasher- University of South Alabama Olivia Coaker- Chipola College Baleigh Baggett- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Coach Hammock’s Record Team Year Record Playoffs Upson-Lee 2014 12-15 Regionals (0-2) Gulf Shores 2019 25-28 Regionals (2-2) Gulf Shores 2020 11-15 Covid-19 Shortened Season Career 48-58 2 Regional Appearances (2-4) Coach Haley Hopkins
Coach Hopkins, a member of the Gulf Shores High School Hall of Fame and Gulf Shores High School Alumni, serves as Associate Head Softball Coach. Coach Hopkins was a 6-year letter winner in softball and a 4-year letter winner in volleyball, at Gulf Shores High School. During her pitching career at Gulf Shores, her team competed in the State tournament 5 out of the 6 years, taking 1st place in 2007 and 2nd place in 2006 and 2004. In 2019, Coach Hopkins had her number (4) retired by Gulf Shores High School. She went on to continue her softball career at the University of South Alabama where her team competed for and won the program’s first Sunbelt Conference Championship as well as making it to the championship game of the NCAA Regional Tournament in Tuscaloosa. In her time at South Alabama, she was a pitcher, catcher, outfielder and DH. After college Coach Hopkins helped start, and run, an indoor training facility, The Fieldhouse, in Daphne AL as well as a non-profit travel softball organization, Southern Spirit Softball. She took over the head coach position at Spanish Fort High School for the 2016 season. While coaching and teaching at Spanish Fort High School Coach Hopkins completed her Master’s in Education.
Coach Sara Shaw Coach Sara Shaw is in her first season as an assistant softball coach at Gulf Shores High School. She is a sanctioned member of the NPA and NSA. Coach Shaw has umpired and coached youth softball for several seasons in Marshall County, Alabama.
In addition to her softball duties, Coach Shaw is a physical education teacher and JV Girls Basketball Coach.
Coach Shaw obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education with Endorsements in Physical Education and minor in Health Fitness from Athens State University.
Coach Shaw is married to Britt Shaw. They have three wonderful children together; Maggie (14), Joseph (7), and Anna Lee (1). Coach Alan Hughes
Gulf Shores High School So0ball is pleased to announce the addi7on of Alan Hughes to the coaching staff. Coach Hughes will be an assistant with the middle school team for the 2019 season.
Over the years, Coach Hughes has been involved in coaching travel, recrea7on, and collegiate levels of so0ball. Coach Hughes began coaching recrea7on league baseball and football in PraGville, Alabama from 1995-2003. From 2004-2011, Coach Hughes coached recrea7on basketball and so0ball in Gulf Shores, before spending the 2011 and 2012 seasons as a member of the coaching staff for Shorter University, the 2012 NAIA Na7onal Champions.
Coach Hughes and his wife Tina have celebrated 31 years of marriage and the couple have three children who graduated from Gulf Shores High School: Thomas (’07), Timothy (’13), Tiffany (’17). Tiffany is currently a pitcher for Spring Hill College (D2). Coach Hughes has two grandchildren in the school system: Braiden and Charlie Brooke. Coach Hughes owns 5T's AC/Heat Appliance, a maintenance company servicing Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, and Foley. Coach Karen Atkins
Coach Karen Atkins brings a wealth of softball knowledge and experience to our program and will serve as the Head Middle School Softball Coach. Previously, she has also served as Head Softball Coach at Corner High School, Walker High School, Dora High School, and Assistant Softball at Curry High School. In addition, Coach Atkins has five years of administrative experience as Principal of Townley Elementary- Junior High School. Coach Atkins is also the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at GSHS.