Tony Montgomery didn”t want to leave East Mississippi Community College.
After not being retained last year as baseball coach, Montgomery never envisioned he would get a chance to go back to the school he loves.
But when that chance presented itself late last week, Montgomery admitted it was too much to pass up.
As a result, Montgomery accepted a job Friday as director of student affairs at EMCC. The position is a combination of three administrative jobs and will be one similar to positions Montgomery held when he last worked in Scooba.
“I was looking forward to coming back (to Columbus High), but when you have an opportunity to better yourself for the future with a job as director of student affairs, I feel it is something that can lead to something bigger and better at EMCC,” said Montgomery, who worked this past school year as a History teacher and as an assistant baseball coach at Columbus High School.
Montgomery, who had surgery this past weekend to repair retina detachment in his eyes, was returning Wednesday to Mississippi. He already told administrators at Columbus High and CHS baseball coach Jeffrey Cook of his decision to take the job at EMCC. He said he hoped to submit his official letter of resignation to new CHS Principal Scott Hallmark by the end of the week.
Montgomery learned about the job opportunity late last week. Since he was still an instructor of online classes at EMCC, he received an e-mail announcing the posting, so he called the school to inquire about the position. He said he filled out an application, talked EMCC officials Wednesday, thought about the job offer Thursday, and made it final Friday.
The timing of the move is the only thing that troubles Montgomery. While excited about the opportunities moving back into college administration could provide for his future and for his retirement, Montgomery expressed disappointment about the possibility his teaching job and his role as assistant baseball coach could go unfilled for this school year.
“It was one of those things that was hard to turn down,” Montgomery said. “I really, really enjoyed working at Columbus. Coach Cook was amazing to work for. I admit the adjustment going from college to high school was tough, but by the time baseball rolled around I felt more comfortable in the classroom and I felt more comfortable teaching.”
As director of student affairs, Montgomery said he will help coordinate EMCC”s housing and dormitories, its student activities (except athletics), and its discipline of students. He said the position is a good fit considering he worked as a director of housing and helped EMCC Athletic Director Mickey Stokes with disciplinary issues in his previous stint at the school.
Montgomery, a former standout baseball player at New Hope High, played the sport at EMCC. He then spent eight years as an assistant baseball coach to head coach Bill Baldner and four seasons as the Lions” head baseball coach.
EMCC went 23-25 in 2010, Montgomery”s final season as head coach. The record was an improvement from an 11-37 mark in 2009.
Montgomery didn”t rule out a return to coaching. He said he would have to wait and see how he fits into his new position, but he said he was excited about the chance to go back to Scooba and the opportunity to put his future on more stable footing.
“I didn”t leave Columbus because I wasn”t happy,” Montgomery said. “I left because I thought I had to do what is best for Tony to do for his future. It is the same thing I would want any of my best friends to do if they can better themselves.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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