Central Red Devils baseball tabs new head coach

In the end, the Central baseball team didn’t have to go far to find its next head coach.

Central High School principal Thomas Vickers announced Friday that assistant coach AJ Kehoe will be the next Red Devils head coach. Kehoe replaces Bobby Howard, who unexpectedly resigned from his position on May 24.

“After reviewing dozens of applicants from across the Southeast, from high school and college coaches, and interviewing several tremendous candidates, the administration immediately recognized the best candidate was already on staff,” Vickers said. “We appreciate all of the applicants and interest shown in the position. Central High School baseball is going to continue to build on the existing momentum and look forward to coach Kehoe taking Red Devil baseball to the next level.”

Kehoe just finished his second season as an assistant for the Red Devils. Prior to joining the Central staff, the Columbia, Md., native spent the previous nine seasons as the head coach at Beauregard. During his tenure with the team, the Hornets won four region championships and made an appearance in the state championship series in 2012.

According to Central baseball’s website, Kehoe has spent 18 seasons as a head coach and boasts a career record of 451-196. Over his career, he has led three teams to eight region championships.

Kehoe has received several accolades for his coaching endeavors, including being named the 2006 Region Coach of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Association, the 2009 5A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and the 2012 Coach of the Year by Auburn-Opelika News.

Kehoe played college baseball at Auburn University-Montgomery and was a member of the 1992 NAIA World Series squad. He later spent time playing professionally for the Pine Bluff Locomotives of the Big South League.

Kehoe is married to the former Brooke Wells of Wetumpka, Ala. They have three sons: Jay, Cole and Cooper.

Kehoe’s promotion closes what was an unexpected nine-day search for the Red Devils.

Howard’s resignation came after the Red Devils posted a 21-17 record and lost in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs. He declined to go into detail about his decision, only relaying via text message that it was time for “a new and different voice” at Central. He did confirm that he had resigned, not retired.

His decision to abruptly step down caught many off guard, including athletic director Bobby Wright.

“I really felt coach Howard was going to be back with us next year,” Wright said. “I consider him a friend of mine as well as a great coach and probably one of the best coaches to come through our system. I truly wish him well in his endeavors, because he deserves everything he’ll get and what he’s gotten so far.”

Vickers released a statement that day regarding the vacancy, saying in part that, “We should have someone in place by the end of next week in order to facilitate summer practices.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Central Red Devils baseball tabs new head coach."