Longtime Tigerettes softball coach and Lady Tigers basketball coach Danny Fish is stepping away from the teams after six seasons as the head man in the dugout and side court. The move comes as a surprise to some, but Fish said he wants to spend more time with his children as they move through school sports programs.

While Fish was initially saying goodbye to the softball diamond, it didn’t mean he was leaving DCHS sports altogether. He was to remain as the DCHS Lady Tigers head basketball coach, a position he has also held for six seasons, as well as a position as a physical education teacher. But on Tuesday, May 31, it was announced that he was stepping down as basketball coach as well. It was announced that he was going to Warren County, where he would take over the role of boys’ basketball coach for the Pioneers.

“I turned in my resignation the day after the season ended, after we lost to Upperman,” Coach Fish told the Smithville Review. “I’m going to focus on basketball.”

Married with two children, a soon to be freshman at DCHS, Devin, and a seven-year-old daughter, Karah, Coach Fish said it was becoming increasingly harder for him to fulfill his duties as softball coach and that as a father.

“I’m going to focus on basketball” Fish explained. “Devin will be here and will be a freshman next year, and he’s going to be playing baseball and basketball. I just couldn’t be on the softball field knowing that he would be on the field next to me, and not being able to watch him play.”

“I coach over 70 games a year,” Fish said. “At this point in my career, it’s time for me to take a step back and be more of a dad, and more of a husband. People don’t understand how hard it is on a coach’s wife. It’s harder than coaching.”

“I really kind of knew it when we came back from Farragut. We were playing and I had been kind of on the fence about being there. We played one game, then I was leaving before the next game. It was Devin’s 8th Grade Night, and Karah had a recital. My wife would have been doing that all by herself and that’s too much to ask for anybody,” Fish concluded.

In his resignation letter to DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis, Coach Fish wrote, “Six years ago when I was asked to take over this  historic program and follow in the footsteps of Legendary Coach Danny Bond, I never thought we would be able to do so much in such a short period of time.  I have always felt being the Coach of the Tigerette program was a privilege and honor. Our staff has tried our best every day to give our student athletes the best experience possible. Have we fallen short some, absolutely …. Have we gotten back up and tried to get better …. every day!! Because of that mentality our program has made great strides over the past six years from fundraising, to field renovations, played in the most prestigious tournaments and last but not least the team and player accomplishments.”

“Thank you to the parents, administration, community sponsors and local media for believing and committing to our vision for the program.  We have all had a part in making these last six years memorable. We have given the athletes the opportunity to go places they have never been before from Orange Beach to the Starplex. Thank you for helping us give these athletes a little slice of big time!”

“Most of all, thank you to the players. Thank you for your patience, work ethic, sacrifice and persistence. Thank you for loving my family like your own. Your willingness to do these things gave us an opportunity to reach our goals together. I will be forever thankful for your trust in the mission and the vision we set together.”

“I am very thankful for my last 10 years in the Tigerette program. We have had an amazing run over the past decade: three State tournaments appearances, six district championships, five regional championships and 13 college signees. With that being said, I believe it is time for me to make a change. I believe the program is turnkey ready for the next staff and I look forward to watching the program grow.”

Assistant softball coach Danielle Tyson Horton, has been named to succeed Fish as Tigerettes head coach. There is no word who will take over as basketball coach.