Chessie (Archer) Laird has changed more than just last names this summer.
The newly-wed, who tied the knot a few weeks ago, is jumping from coaching middle school softball to a new job as head softball coach at Jackson County this season. Though it’s been a whirlwind offseason for Laird, the change has also been exciting.
“It’s been awesome,” Laird said this past Thursday prior to practice. “There’s a time in your life where you think that everything is so slow and everything goes. Then all of a sudden, you have bam-bam-bam … I’m looking forward to it, though. It’s been a good transition for me.”
Laird inherits a program that went 16-11-2 a year ago and missed out on the state tournament by one game. While the job title may be new to Laird, the faces are anything but.
Laird spent the last three years coaching West Jackson Middle School where she presided over most of the current Panther roster to great success. Laird guided the program to a 36-6 mark during that stint and – perhaps just as importantly – got to know the kids who will now be playing for her as high school players. Reuniting with those former West Jackson pupils and getting to mentor them even longer – four years as opposed to two – was one of the major draws of coaching high school ball.
“The last few years, our middle school has been up her practicing with the high school, you just kind of get to see them (the former players) again and really miss them,” she said. “It’s great to kind of be a part of them again.”
Laird said the familiarity that already exists creates a family-type atmosphere within the program. The coach and the players have picked up right where they left off during their successful middle school run.
“Our friendship is great,” said Laird, who notes that her first eighth grade class at the middle school level four seasons ago will be juniors now. “They’ve kind of grown throughout the years as my little sisters. It’s neat to just kind of watch them come up from sixth grade.”
Now, they look to win games together at the high school level.
Laird said voluntary summer workouts in preparation for the 2011 campaign have been well-attended with an average of 20 players showing up per session the last two weeks. Jackson County will also play in a summer league schedule that will include teams like Elbert County, East Hall and Habersham Central. The Panthers will even scrimmage crosstown rival Jefferson July 18 on the road.
Speaking of Jefferson, Laird is well acquainted with the other side of the rivalry. Laird, after all, played softball and basketball at Jefferson from 1999 to 2003. So how will the opposing dugout this fall feel?
“It’s going to be fun,” Laird said. “It’s definitely going to be fun. Me and (Jefferson) coach (Melissa) Mullis have shot emails back-and-forth just talking. She’s been really good to help me out and just talk. But it’s going to be interesting.”
The Panthers haven’t established any specific goals at this point but aim to get better in the offseason as the program transitions to a coach that’s technically new but pretty familiar.
“They’re just here to have a good time,” Laird said. “At the same time, we want to be competitive in our region. We just want to be successful. They’ve each set different personal goals that they want to reach, so we’re doing what we can.”
