It’s always tough for a player to hang up the cleats and helmet and end a sporting career but it’s equally tough for a coach to put the whistle up for good.
That’s the decision that Eupora softball coach Amir Hunt has made this week as he is stepping into administration. Hunt announced on social media Tuesday afternoon that he will be the new Houston Middle School Principal starting next year. The announcement comes after he led another Eupora team to the playoffs and finished off a successful season.
“I was ready to get into administration,” Hunt said. “I saw that Houston Middle School was looking for an assistant principal and it was a lot easier to stay in Webster County and move into administration at the same time. I’ve been wanting to get into administration for some time. I’ve been coaching for 16 years and it was just time. I really liked what we had going at Eupora so it was a hard decision and something I had to weigh the pros and cons. At the end of the day, I felt like it was a good fit.”
Hunt started his career at South Panola High School where he coached baseball as an assistant for four seasons. He went to Brandon for two seasons to coach baseball after that and then became a head coach for the first time at Amory High School dipping his toes into softball.
It was there where Hunt fell in love with the sport and would have success with the Lady Panthers fro two seasons. He came home to Webster county six years ago and was planning to teach before joining the softball team as an assistant under Kaley Harris. After Harris left Eupora, Hunt has been the head coach for the last four seasons playing for a Class 2A slow pitch championship a couple of years ago and being named the Starkville Daily News coach of the year on two different occasions.
While every stop has been special to Hunt, the East Webster alum found a special place in his heart for Eupora. It was a place he was content in ending his career with if need be. Administration called him in a different direction but he cherishes his time leading the Lady Eagles.
“I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve met and built relationships with a lot of great parents, coaches and players,” Hunt said. “As long as I was coaching softball, I never wanted to leave Eupora. I’ve had a phenomenal experience. I’ve had some of the best kids you can possibly imagine and some of the best players on and off the field. We built a new field and had a great things going on. Whoever the next coach is, they’re going to inherit a very supportive staff and administration, passionate and supportive parents and players that will do everything you ask from them.”
