FROM BRAXTON PARMER
Special to the EAN
Photo from AHSAA
Today, the #VirtualGraveTour travels to Pine View Memorial Gardens, in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, to visit legendary Wetumpka Athletics Head Coach Coy Stokely “Coach” Bazemore Jr.
Coy Stokely Bazemore Jr., was born October 29, 1946, in Alexander City, Alabama. Bazemore grew up in Wetumpka and graduated from Wetumpka High School in 1965. Upon graduation, he earned B.S. in Math Education from Auburn University 1969 and later received a Masters in higher education from Auburn-Montgomery.
Coach Bazemore’s teaching career began in Wetumpka, where he taught for 37 years. He was a highly respected math teacher, who was truly dedicated to the success of his students.
Bazemore served as a basketball, football, and baseball coach, as well as athletic director and teacher at Wetumpka High School. His 22 baseball teams posted a 284-157 mark and won the Class 3A State Title in 1982. They also finished as the runner-up in 1988. Twelve of his baseball teams qualified for the state playoffs.
Bazemore’s nine basketball teams compiled a 187-57 record and were Class 3A State Champions in 1979 and 1980. In addition, he also coached the first undefeated regular season football team, which was the first team to make the state playoffs for Wetumpka High School in 1981.
Coach Stokely Bazemore’s overall record as a high school football coach in the State of Alabama stands at 72-65-1. His squads won four area titles and qualified for the playoffs six times. Bazemore served as the head football coach for 13 seasons from 1980 through the 1992 season.
In 2003, Coach Stokely Bazemore was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The school’s baseball field is named in his honor. Coach Bazemore was selected as the 1981, Montgomery Advertiser Metro Football Coach of the Year and the 1981, 1982, and 1992 Montgomery Advertiser Metro Baseball Coach of the Year. In addition, he was awarded the 1985 East-West Service Award to Youth by the Alabama Lions Club.
On February 5, 2008, Coy Stokely “Coach” Bazemore Jr., passed away at the age of 61, in Montgomery, Alabama. We love and miss you Coach Bazemore.
