Patriots welcome new golf, softball coaches

Homewood High School has named new leadership atop two of their athletic programs for the 2016-17 school year.

Jason Haithcock takes over a boys golf program fresh off its first state championship in the spring. He will also work as an assistant football coach and comes from Pelham, where he worked in the same roles.

He has also spent time at Shelby County and Russellville High Schools.

Taking over the softball program is Tiffany Statum, a top player and graduate of Homewood High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UAB and a master’s degree from Montevallo and served as an assistant softball coach at Homewood Middle in 2013.

“The athletic department is extremely pleased that Coach Statum has decided to come back to her alma mater and take over our softball program,” said Homewood City Schools athletics director Kevin Tubbs in a statement. “The softball team will be in great hands with not only a coach with a strong softball background, but with someone that understands what it means to wear a Homewood Patriot uniform.”

Statum will also serve as a special education teacher, and will be joined on the softball staff by Arica Moss, who will also spend time with the girls basketball program. Moss was a member of Samford’s softball program from 2010-14, playing in 189 games. She played softball and basketball at Wicksburg High School in Newton, Alabama.