SM-TN Sports
Zion Christian announced Monday morning the hiring of Russ Adcox as its new head softball coach. He spent three years as an assistant coach for Zion’s middle school softball team and the last six years as an assistant coach for varsity softball under Tommy Fox.
“I know I’ve got big shoes to fill following Coach Fox, and we’re definitely going to miss (Fox’s daughters) Caroline and Ella on the field, but I think we’ve got the right elements in place to have a really good team,” Adcox said in a release from the school.
Adcox takes over a program that was 5-1 before the 2020 season was ended due to COVID-19. They replace three seniors — Lauryn Kinser, Sarah Joiner and Sewanee signee Kathryn Kennedy — from that team, but Adcox is confident the program will continue to thrive under his leadership, along with assistant coaches Jeff Hazard and Eric Coble.
“(Hazard) and I have coached together for the last six years. We understand the system (Fox) implemented and plan to keep as much of it as possible,” Adcox said.
Coble was an assistant coach with Zion’s middle school team that went undefeated last season, and has previously coached at Mt. Pleasant. Adcox is excited to add both coaches to the staff, and believes the 2021 team will be competitive.
“We’ve got a great group of girls, including four returning seniors and a really good freshman class coming off an undefeated middle school (season),” he said. “The girls have been playing together a while, half of them are playing with travel organizations, and Coach Hazard and Coach Coble are going to be a big asset to the program.
“I can’t wait for the season to get started. The girls love the game and each other. It’s going to be fun year with this group.”
Adcox has been a member of the Zion coaching community for nine years. He is also the President of the ZCA Booster Club, and has been an active volunteer in Zion athletics since in 2004. He also serves as the Lead Pastor of Maury Hills Church in Columbia and on numerous non-profit boards in the community.