By TIM GAYLE
Special to the Elmore/Autauga News
Autauga Academy Athletic Director Bobby Carr took the first step in filling several vacancies on his coaching staff by hiring Randy Farmer as the Generals’ new softball coach.
Carr made the announcement late last week, noting that Farmer will serve as an assistant coach with the football team as well.
“He’s been actively involved in softball,” Carr said. “His oldest daughter (Bella) just graduated from Holtville and signed with South Alabama. His youngest daughter, Ava, is a really good athlete and Randy has been involved with softball. I think it’s a good opportunity for him to come in and help us with football and also get our softball program headed in the right direction.”
Farmer, a three-sport star at Holtville High in the late 1980s, played baseball at Meridian Community College in 1989 and 1990 and signed with Alabama but was selected in the 1990 draft by the New York Mets. He played three years of professional baseball in the Mets’ organization.
“I’ve been trying to help Holtville the last four years and the only thing I could really do was after practice,” Farmer said. “I saw Bobby, a good friend of mine, who asked me to help with the Autauga softball program. About two weeks later he texted me back and asked me if I had thought more about it. I’m excited.
“Other than coaching Little League ball and travel ball and helping (Carr as a volunteer at Edgewood), that’s about it” as far as coaching experience.
Farmer, an acclaimed quarterback for the Bulldogs in the late 1980s, said he was approached about coaching special teams and defensive backs for Carr at Autauga this fall. Carr said the duties remain uncertain until he completes the hiring of his staff.
Farmer will replace another community volunteer, Jeremy DeLoach, who stepped down as the Generals’ softball coach following the 2019 season. In his absence, Autauga was coached by Greg Parker and teacher Mayra Atchley in 2020.
“They just stepped in to help keep things going,” Carr said. “We were very young and the numbers were down, so bringing in Randy, a familiar face with travel ball, will be able to bring some girls in to boost our program. And he’s a good coach, respected in the area.”
Parker, who also served as the offensive coordinator on the football team and as the boys’ basketball coach, stepped down last week after six years at Autauga to take a job as an assistant coach at Trinity Presbyterian.
“Greg has had job offers the last three years and a lot of that is because, number one, he’s a good coach and people know that,” Carr said. “And a lot of that is attributed to the success we’ve had. One day he wants to be a head coach and an athletic director and he feels like this is a step up.”
Carr announced he will be replacing Scott Tubbs, who stepped down at the end of the 2020 season, as the Generals’ head baseball coach in 2021. Tubbs had served as a football assistant for the Generals in football as well.
