At Lee High School, Coach Slay is more than just a new baseball coach; he is also a husband, a friend and a father. In his free time, Coach Slay enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family. After coaching at Huntsville High School for five years, he decided to come to Lee to expand his skills in a new setting. His oldest daughter, who is a graduate from Lee, brought the school to his attention. After feeling a sense of belonging, he decided to coach the Lee High School baseball team. Not only does Coach Slay have a passion for coaching, but he also has a deep personal connection to baseball.
Coach Slay attended Alabama A&M University where he majored in psychology and minored in biology. When asked if he sees himself coaching at A&M in the future, he replied, “you never know what God has in store for you. I would love to lead the great bulldogs one day.”
For now, Coach Slay is focused on coaching the baseball players at Lee High School. As a first-year coach at Lee with years of experience behind him, he is ready to train his new athletes and teach them skills they can use throughout their baseball careers. In particular, he looks for players who have “determination, dedication, and the ability to be coached… someone who really wants it.”
Along with valuing coachable players, Coach Slay avoids athletes he described as “someone who is uncoachable.. Someone who thinks they know it all.”
For Coach Slay, winning is important, but helping his players grow is just as important. He understands that students are only in high school for four years, and he wants to pass down his knowledge and skills to his athletes. He believes that helping players develop both on and off the field “make a better community.”
His coaching philosophy also teaches players how to handle challenges, Coach Slay believes that losses should be seen as learning experiences rather than reason to punish a team with workouts. He calls this a “Mamba mentality” an idea he credits Kobe Bryant for inspiring. This mindset encourages him and his players to stay humble, learn from mistakes, and continue working hard.
As Lee High School’s baseball coach, Coach Slay has made his goals clear. He wants to bring new skills to the team and support every player who is willing to learn and accept tough advice. He hopes to establish winning standards while also teaching players how to carry themselves off the baseball field.
Beyond coaching, Coach Slay shares encouraging words with the Lee family and future baseball players. His message is simple: "Trust God and be yourself, continue pushing forwards, don’t let nothing stop you.”
Finally, Coach Slay reflects on the difficult moments he has faced in his own life. In 2022, he was hit by a baseball and became partially blind. Despite this challenge, he refused to give up, even when it threatened his career. Through those difficult times, he continued moving forward and gave thanks to God for being his source of strength and guidance. His story shows that perseverance, faith, and determination can help a person overcome challenges and continue pursuing their goals.
